There was a heavy police presence within the capital, decked out in red-and-white flags for the event. Copenhagen police official Peter Dahl advised AFP he anticipated “greater than 100,000 individuals” within the streets.
“SOUL OF THE NATION”
Aske Julius, a 27-year-old Copenhagen resident, known as Margrethe “the embodiment of Denmark … the soul of the nation.”
“Greater than half of the Danish inhabitants has by no means recognized anything however the queen,” he stated.
Portraits and banners across the capital thanked the queen for her years of service, with cheeky indicators within the metro declaring “Thanks for the Trip, Margrethe”.
Others learn “Lengthy Dwell the King”.
Aside from the abdication, the protocol is essentially just like earlier royal successions in Denmark.
No overseas dignitaries or royals are invited, and there’s no coronation or throne for the brand new monarch.
Margrethe selected to abdicate precisely 52 years to the day after she took over from her father, Frederik IX.
“There’s numerous symbolism round today,” Cecilie Nielsen, royal correspondent for Danish public broadcaster DR, advised AFP.
The queen surprised Danes when she introduced her abdication in her annual televised New Yr’s Eve handle, after having repeatedly insisted she would observe custom and reign till her demise.
Even her family was solely knowledgeable three days prior.
She attributed her determination to well being points after present process main again surgical procedure final 12 months.
Opinion polls present that greater than 80 per cent of Danes assist her determination.
Margrethe will retain her title of queen and will signify the royal household every so often.
“DIFFERENT” MONARCH
Specialists say that passing the baton to her son now will give him time to flourish in his function as monarch, after steadily taking up growing tasks.
“She thinks the crown prince is completely able to take over. And she or he needs to keep away from a scenario like in Nice Britain the place Prince Charles turned King Charles after the age of 70,” historian Hovbakke Sorensen stated.
Like his mom, Frederik, who has been crown prince for the reason that age of three, enjoys the assist of greater than 80 per cent of Danes.
However he’s anticipated to convey his personal type to the monarchy, which dates again to the tenth century Viking period.
“Queen Margrethe II is a girl of her time and Frederik additionally lives in his personal period. He understood that he couldn’t copy her and has managed to outline his personal picture, his personal ties to the Danish individuals,” one other historian, Bo Lidegaard, advised AFP.
“We can have a unique kind of monarch, far more casual in his approach of talking with individuals when he travels throughout the nation,” his colleague Hovbakke Sorensen added.
Whereas his mom is thought for her love of the humanities and is an completed author and artist, Frederik is an avid sportsman who champions environmental causes.
In Denmark, the monarch’s function is essentially ceremonial, however she or he does signal laws, formally presides over the forming of a authorities and meets with the cupboard commonly.
