Queen Margrethe II of Denmark signed her historic abdication on Sunday in Copenhagen. His son Frederik X will succeed him.
Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily renounce the throne in almost 900 years, since the resignation of King Erik III Lam who entered a monastery in 1146.
After more than half a century of reign, the queen signed her abdication on Sunday during a meeting with the Danish cabinet at Christiansborg Palace, which houses the royal reception rooms and royal stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the office of the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court.
The document was presented to her as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which sat members of the royal family and members of the Danish government.
Frederik, 55, was present in the room as was Christian, Frederik’s 18-year-old son, who will become heir to the throne.
After signing her abdication, the Queen stood and gestured for her son to take her place and said “May God save the king” when leaving the room.
The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens: Margrethe will retain her title while Frederik’s Australian wife will become Queen Mary Frederik.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen then proclaimed Frederik king from the palace balcony in front of thousands of people.
Unlike in the UK, there will be no coronation ceremony in Denmark.
The Prime Minister will officially proclaim Frederik king from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, which houses government offices, Parliament and the Supreme Court as well as the royal stables and royal reception rooms.
Four cannons on Copenhagen harbor will fire a salute to mark the succession. Late this afternoon, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park plans to celebrate the new king and queen with the biggest fireworks display in the park’s 180-year history.
A survey — commissioned by Danish public broadcaster DR — published Friday showed that 79% of 1,037 people surveyed by pollster Epinion said they thought Frederik was ready to take the reins and 83% said that They thought his wife Mary was ready to become one.
