Denmark welcomes new King Frederik X as Queen Margrethe II abdicates throne
Queen Margrethe II has abdicated as the monarch of Denmark and will be succeeded by her son King Frederik X, Reuters and AFP reports.
The succession took place at around 1pm on Sunday afternoon in Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace and more than 100,000 gathered outside.
There the Queen signed her abdication and about an hour later her eldest son was proclaimed, with Denmark not adhering to a coronation ceremony.
The 83-year-old Queen became the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years.
Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Year's Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is tradition in the Danish monarchy.
Margrethe underwent major back surgery last February and did not return to work until April.
Even prime minister Mette Frederiksen was unaware of the queen's intentions until just before the announcement.
Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace.
Danish royal expert Thomas Larsen said: "The queen has been here and she has been on the throne for more than 50 years. And she is an extremely respected and popular figure, so people hadn't expected this and they were in shock."
The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Erik III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery.
