Add Category
Frederik’s accession will take place when the queen, the crown prince and his son, Prince Christian, participate in the Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, along with the government and the cabinet secretary. The change of throne happens during the meeting when the queen has signed her abdication.
Christiansborg Castle Square, in Copenhagen, this week.Credit: AP
Frederik will arrive at Christiansborg Palace – which houses the Danish parliament Folketing, as well as reception and other rooms – as crown prince and leave it as king. Likewise, Mary will arrive as a crown princess and depart as queen. Prince Christian will leave as crown prince, meaning heir to the throne. Margrethe II will keep her title, albeit not as head of the household.
Program run-down
1.35pm (11.35pm Sunday AEDT) Frederik, Mary and Christian ride in a car from Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace.
1:37pm (11.37pm) The queen rides in a carriage from Christian IX’s Palace at Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment.
2pm (midnight Monday AEDT) Council of State and abdication.
2.15pm (12.15am) Queen Margrethe’s departure from Christiansborg Palace in a car to Christian IX’s Palace.
2:30am (12.30am) The new king and queen hold audience small reception with special guests.
3pm (1am) King Frederik X steps out on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, after which Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaims his accession to the throne. King Frederik is expected to address the crowd. A special cannon salute will follow.
Loading
3.10pm (1.10am) The royal standard is lowered at Christian IX’s Palace and re-raised at Frederik VIII’s Palace.
3.30pm (1.30am) After the proclamation, the new king and queen ride in a carriage, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s mounted squadron, from Christiansborg Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace.
5pm (3am) Transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace. The flags are the “first and clearest sign you get that now it really is you who are responsible”, Queen Margrethe has said.
Why is it being held on January 14?
The date holds personal significance to Margrethe. It is the date she acceded to the throne after the shock death of her father. He died after suffering a cardiac arrest just two weeks after giving his New Year’s address to the nation.
Queen Margrethe II on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace during her proclamation on January 14, in 1972.Credit: UPI
What about the carriage?
The gold wedding carriage is one of several at the royal stables at Christiansborg Palace. It was built over nine months in 1891-92 by carriage manufacturer FC Schulz in Copenhagen, and was a gift from craftsmen to King Christian IX and Queen Louise for their golden wedding on May 26, 1892.
At the king’s request, the gold wedding carriage was built light and elegant in black-lacquered mahogany with the Danish royal coat of arms painted on both doors.
The high coach seat is covered with a buck blanket in the original red silk velvet, decorated with gold embroidery, gold fringes and gold tassels.
The Danish Royal carriage that will carry the new king and queen of Denmark.Credit: Instagram / @detdanskekongehus
It was last used by Queen Margrethe on the 50th anniversary of her reign in 2022, when the carriage’s trestle cover was restored.
At Frederik X’s proclamation, the carriage’s interior will be lit by electric light.
How will they celebrate afterwards?
No details of celebrations have been included to date in the official program released by the royal household, apart from a reception for special guests at the palace before the proclamation is read and the king appears on the balcony.
Loading
But a stunning display of fireworks will be held by Tivoli Gardens, in the heart of Copenhagen, to light up the skies over the capital at precisely 6pm on Sunday (4am on Monday AEDT). Tivoli Gardens is the world’s second-oldest amusement park.
The display will honour Margrethe II’s 52 years on the throne and the accession of Frederik and Mary, and will include 5153 rockets, Roman candles and other types of fireworks. It will run for about 12 minutes, and be the largest display in the park’s 180-year history. Margrethe and Tivoli Gardens have a long association and the park said she had “contributed to scenography and costume design for various performances” over the years.