On New Year’s Eve, Danes were taken aback when Queen Margrethe II declared her abdication.
The world’s sole reigning queen and the longest-serving living monarch in Europe will step down on 14 January, marking 52 years since her ascension to the throne. “I will pass on the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” she announced during a live television broadcast.
However, what do we know about Denmark’s future king? Crown Prince Frederik was initially recognized in Denmark as somewhat of a party prince in the early 1990s. Still, perceptions of him began to transform after he graduated from Aarhus University in 1995 with a master’s in political science. He holds the distinction of being the first Danish royal to attain a university education. During his studies, he spent time at Harvard in the United States, enrolling under the pseudonym Frederik Henriksen.
Later, he served in the Danish navy, earning the nickname “Pingo.” As the Mail reported, this moniker originated after his wetsuit filled with water during a scuba diving course, causing him to waddle like a penguin. The 55-year-old has gained a reputation as a daredevil, participating in a four-month ski expedition across Greenland in 2000. He has experienced hospitalization due to sledging and scooter accidents.
“I don’t want to lock myself in a fortress. I want to be myself, a human being,” he once asserted, expressing his commitment to maintaining that approach even after ascending to the throne.
Crown Prince Frederik took part in a 3,500 km journey across Greenland in 2000
Crown Prince Frederik, much like Britain’s King Charles III, is recognized for his commitment to environmental causes. He has pledged to “navigate the course” of Denmark into the future.
His wife, Princess Mary, born in Australia, was raised on the island of Tasmania and worked as a lawyer when they first encountered each other in 2000 at a Sydney bar during the Olympic Games. In an interview, she revealed that she was unaware of his status as the prince of Denmark when they met, stating, “Half an hour later, someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are?'”
Considered by some as symbols of modern values, they have endeavored to provide their four children—a daughter, a son, and twins—with as ordinary an upbringing as possible, primarily sending them to state schools.
Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary attended the coronation of King Charles III in May
Unlike the British royal tradition, Crown Prince Frederik will not undergo a formal crowning ceremony. Instead, his accession will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on the designated day.
He will assume the role of King of Denmark and serve as the head of state in the country, which operates as a constitutional monarchy, as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Queen Margrethe II holds the unique distinction of being the sole reigning queen globally and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe. She ascended to the throne in 1972 following the passing of her father, King Frederik IX.
The 83-year-old monarch recently disclosed that her decision to abdicate was prompted by a period of contemplation, particularly in the aftermath of back surgery in early 2023. Reflecting on the surgery, she remarked, “The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.”
Expressing her decision, Queen Margrethe II stated, “I have decided that now is the right time.” She extended her gratitude to the Danish public for their unwavering support throughout the years.