The King has sent a message on behalf of him and The Queen to the new King and Queen of Denmark – King Frederik X and Queen Mary – on the day of their accession to the throne.
The historic moment took place after Margrethe II abdicated, serving 52 years as Queen of Denmark. She shocked the country when she announced her time as Queen would come to an end in a live address on New Year’s Eve.
Margrethe – a distant cousin to Charles – was Europe’s longest-reigning Monarch and the world’s last reigning Queen.
King Charles III accompanied by other members of the royal family hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace for the Heads of State and other visiting dignitaries who are due to attend the Coronation. Photo by Ian Jones. (Foreign Office/Flickr).
In a message, Charles said how he and Camilla ‘convey’ their best wishes on accession day for King Frederik X and Queen Mary.
He added how he looks ‘forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world’.
King Charles III also paid ‘tribute to the many years of service of your mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, and remember fondly the frequent visits between our countries, including our visit to Copenhagen and Elsinore in 2012’.
Expressing his gratitude to Frederik and Mary, he commented how was delighted the Danish Royals were able to attend his own Coronation last year and looks ‘forward to future opportunities to celebrate the close connection’ that unites the United Kingdom and Denmark, as well as both royal families’.
The messaged is signed ‘Charles R’.
The handover between Margrethe and Frederik took place during a cabinet meeting at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on Sunday, when the former Queen signed a declaration of her abdication, which in turn officially transferred the crown to her eldest son.
Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen then publicly proclaimed King Frederik’s accession to the throne – a tradition in place since the constitution of 1849.
There was no coronation, just the signing of the paperwork and balcony proclamation. British royals are one of the few families to still have this ceremony, and the only ones in Europe to still use their crown jewels as part of this.
Whilst Margrethe is no longer the ruling Monarch of Denmark, the Danish Royal House have confirmed that she will still be styled as Her Majesty and can be installed as acting regent when both King Frederik or Crown Prince Christian are not able to perform duties.
