Gone in the blink of an eye!
With the announcement of the official program for the upcoming change of throne in Denmark, one thing stands out: the supreme moment is only a matter of a few minutes.
No spectacle
When one monarch steps down and the next monarch takes a place on the throne, you probably expect quite a royal spectacle. From a literal coronation to a festive inauguration with all kinds of fellow royals: there seems to be a bit of excitement involved. Yet things are very different for the Danes.
For example, we recently explained that there is no extensive party on the agenda for the future king and queen, Frederik and Mary, when they succeed Queen Margrethe next Sunday. Now the Danish court has released the official program for the day, giving us exactly what to expect from the big day.
Quick as a flash
What is particularly striking is that the matter itself is settled within fifteen minutes (!). According to the schedule, Queen Margrethe will arrive at the council meeting in Christiansborg at 2 p.m. sharp. Here she then puts her signature to make the abdication official – and according to Danish rules, this signature immediately means that Frederik is officially king. At 2.15 pm Margrethe then leaves for home from Christiansborg Palace. And so, within 15 minutes, history was written in Denmark.
The full program of the day is as follows:
- 13.35 – Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, and Prince Christian drive in the car from Frederik VIII Palace to Christiansborg.
- 13.37 – Queen Margrethe leaves in a carriage in a procession from the Christian IX Palace to Christiansborg.
- 2:00 PM – Council meeting in Christiansborg where Margrethe signs her abdication declaration in the presence of Frederik and Christian. Frederik is the new king with immediate effect.
- 2:15 PM – Margrethe leaves Christiansborg by car back to the Christian IX Palace.
- 2.30 pm – Reception in Christiansborg by the royal couple.
- 15.00 – Balcony moment: Danish Prime Minister officially announces the accession to the throne of King Frederik X. A first speech and conclusion with Frederik’s official motto.
- 15.10 – Gun salute from the Danish naval base at Holmen, Copenhagen. Court staff lowers royal standard at Margrethe’s residential palace. The standard is being hoisted at Frederik and Mary’s residential palace.
- 3.30 pm – Frederik and Mary leave by carriage in a procession from Christiansborg to go home.
- 5:00 PM – Transition of the royal banner from Margrethe’s residential palace to the residential palace of Frederik and Mary.
Celebration
In short: the Danes keep things very down to earth. On January 15, there will be another meeting of the Danish parliament in the morning, which will be attended by the new royal couple and other members of the royal family. The official activities will then conclude on January 21 with a church service in Aarhus Cathedral.
Little pump, little circumstance, just a simple changing of the guard. Although we would have appreciated a bit of glitz and glamor, there is of course something to be said for such a sober approach. Oh well – in the coming years the new king and queen will have plenty of time to take their most beautiful jewels out of the safe on all kinds of occasions. In any case, we can’t wait!
Source: Instagram @detdanskekongehus, Gert’s Royals | Image: NL Image
