Aha: why Prince Frederik doesn’t get a grand coronation ceremony

The Danes keep it down to earth!

On Sunday, January 14, the time has come: after 52 years on the Danish throne, Queen Margrethe will give up her place for (currently) Crown Prince Frederik. You might expect that that is reason enough for a big party of royal proportions, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Danish throne change passes without too much pomp and circumstance.

Throne change

You can hardly have missed it: in her New Year’s speech on December 31, the Danish Queen Margrethe announced that on the day of her 52^e anniversary will resign. This means that from January 14 we will no longer be dealing with a queen, but a Danish king – namely her eldest son, Frederik.

And when you think of a change of throne, you might think of scenes like this:

Or an inauguration à la our Oranges:

But things are a little different in Denmark. As down-to-earth as they are, there is no grand ceremony or glamorous coronation there. No!

Sober ceremony

In conversation with Hello! Magazine, royal historian Marlene Koenig explains how this works. About nine centuries ago, monarchs were indeed crowned in Denmark, but that has changed considerably over time. Over time, monarchs were no longer crowned (they came to the ceremony in full regalia with a crown, nice and easy) but only anointed. However, that is no longer the case.

“In 1849, when Frederick VII came to the throne, Denmark was a constitutional monarchy and the anointing ceremony was abolished,” she explains. “Since 1849, the new king or queen has been proclaimed by the prime minister. Margrethe was proclaimed queen on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace on January 15, 1972, the day after her father, Frederick IX, died,” Koenig continues.

Step down

This is the first time in almost nine hundred years that a monarch has abdicated in Denmark. Changes to the throne always followed a death, and you immediately understand why festive horns and fanfares were historically not entirely appropriate on these occasions.

The fact that Frederik and Mary do not have to appear on the balcony of Christiansborg in mourning attire for their proclamation is therefore a first for the Danish monarchy. On their own website, the Danish court writes: “HRH the Crown Prince will arrive at Christiansborg as Crown Prince and depart as King.”

In any case, we are very curious to see what the coming year will bring for the future king and queen!

Source: Hello! Magazine, Kongehuset.dk | Image: NL Image