2:19 p.m
Queen Margrethe II signed her declaration of abdication
Queen Margrethe II signed her declaration of abdication along with the future King Frederik and his son Prince Christian during a Council of State with the Danish government at Christiansborg Palace.
Before Frederik's official proclamation as king, scheduled for around 3 p.m., the ruler returned by car to Amalienborg Palace to the cheers of the Copenhagen crowd.
2:14 p.m
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Frederik arrived at Christiansborg Palace
After a short procession through the crowds of Copenhagen, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Frederik have just arrived at Christiansborg Palace.
Here, at the seat of the Danish Parliament, the ruler must officially sign her declaration of abdication as part of a State Council convened with the Danish government.
2:10 p.m
Queen Margrethe II is cheered by the crowd in Copenhagen
As Queen Margrethe II strolls through the streets of the Danish capital in a carriage to reach Christiansborg Palace, where she is to sign her declaration of abdication, she is loudly cheered by the crowd.
In the crowded streets around Palace Square, people wave Danish flags and applaud the monarch.
1:40 p.m
Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe II leave Amalienborg Palace
Prince Frederik has left Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Danish royal family.
Accompanied by his wife, Princess Mary, and his eldest son, Prince Christian, the future king heads to Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament, the Ministry of State and the Supreme Court, to begin the transfer of power.
He is followed by Queen Margrethe II, who travels the same route in a carriage, accompanied by the Guard Hussars Regiment.
1:35 p.m
“The friendship between us lasts forever”: The King of Sweden, Carl Gustav, sends a message to his cousin Margrethe II
A few hours before Margrethe II's abdication, Swedish King Carl Gustav wanted to send a message of support to the Danish ruler, who is also his first cousin.
“I would like to thank you very much for the good cooperation that has developed over the years. Your role has changed, but the friendship between us remains eternal and unshakable,” he wrote in a statement posted on Twitter.
“As Queen of Denmark, you were the guarantee of the closeness and affection that exists today between our countries and our homes. I would like to thank you especially,” the King of Sweden continued in his message.
13:26
French-speaking, daring, tattooed… Who is Frederik X, the future King of Denmark?
At 55, Prince Frederik is preparing to take the throne of his mother Margrethe II and become the new King of Denmark.
With a popularity rating of over 80%, this sporty, daring and tattooed prince has discreetly eclipsed his mother, particularly because of his commitment to climate protection.
Frederik, who went to school in Normandy, speaks French through his father, the French diplomat Henri de Monpezat, and spent most of his summers in a castle in the Lot that Queen Margrethe has owned since 1975.
As a young partygoer, he met his Tasmanian wife Mary, who is set to become Queen of Denmark this Sunday, in a pub in Australia.
You can find the full portrait of Frederik X in our new episode of the Royal Podcast and in our article.
13:11
The French Embassy in Denmark pays tribute to Margrethe II
Before handing over the crown this afternoon, Queen Margrethe II was honored by the French Embassy in Denmark.
A sign was placed on the facade of the building in Copenhagen on which we can read a sober “thank you” to the ruler after 52 years of rule.
12:58
A sober and crownless transfer of power
In contrast to his British counterpart Charles III. Prince Frederik will have the right to a much more sober transfer of power.
The United Kingdom is actually the only European monarchy to have retained a coronation ceremony. In Denmark, the last coronation dates back to 1660 and the last anointing dates back to 1840. When she came to the throne after her father's death, Queen Margrethe had no claim to either.
His son Frederik will not experience an elaborate ceremony either. On the program: the signing of the declaration of abdication, a carriage ride and a salute to the balcony.
Another difference is that Charles III, the future king of Denmark, will not wear a crown after his proclamation and will not literally ascend the throne. For more information, see our article.
12:48
Margrethe II, a very popular queen with a rather atypical profile
The 83-year-old Queen of Denmark has been in power for 52 years and is the last female ruler in Europe since the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Although she is very little known in France, this monarch, despite being French-speaking and Francophile, is very popular in her country and has a rather atypical profile for a queen.
Dubbed the “ashtray queen” by the British press, Margrethe II is a heavy smoker and, according to Time, was able to smoke up to 60 cigarettes a day before she was forced to cut back in February 2023 following major back surgery.
As a passionate archaeologist, the ruler also illustrated the Danish edition of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings in 1977 under the pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer. Discover five amazing facts about Margrethe II in our article.
12:29
Start of the celebrations in Copenhagen
One by one, the Danes gather on the square of Christiansborg Palace, the seat of parliament, where the new King Frederik X is to be proclaimed around 3 p.m.
Queen Margrethe II and her son Frederik will travel by carriage from Amalienborg Palace, the royal family's winter residence, to the seat of the Danish Parliament at around 1:30 p.m.
The ruler has to sign her declaration of abdication in Christiansborg Palace. The new king will then be proclaimed by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen from the palace balcony. Discover the details of the program in our article.
12:13
A historic event for Denmark
Hello everyone and welcome to this live broadcast of the abdication of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and the proclamation of the country's new king, Frederik X.
This Sunday, January 14th, is a big day for the Danes as the country prepares for a very rare event in its history: the transfer of power to its Queen, who has been in office since 1972.
During her annual New Year's address on December 31, the Danish monarch caused a surprise when she announced that she wanted to abdicate and leave her place on the throne to her son Frederik X.