Thanks to the multiplicity of internet television channels I was able to watch the events In Copenhagen last Sunday as Queen Margrethe II abdicated and King Frederik X succeeded her as the Danish monarch.
The size of the crowd for the new King’s formal proclamation and their evident enthusiasm for both Queen Margrethe and for King Frederik and Queen Mary, together with their children, illustrated the warmth of regard the Danes have for their Royal Family and the institution of the Monarchy.
The interest in this country and the wider Anglophone world is striking - more so than for the changes of sovereign in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain in 2013 and 2014. Much of that is no doubt due to social media interest in Queen Mary as being both a style icon and the fact that she is of Scottish descent and born and brought up in Australia. She is the first reigning Australian born monarch.*
The ceremonial of the transfer of regal authority was interesting in its minimalism. Indeed the transfer of the Crown was as automatic as in this country, with no hiatus. Other countries that do not have an actual coronation* do have formal oath taking ceremonies before the national legislature as in The Netherlands and Belgium in 2013, and in Spain in 2014. In the Amsterdam and Madrid ceremonies the crown and regalia was on display. Denmark however does not do things that way. The regalia remained at Rosenborg Castle and I assume the King’s oath to maintain the Constitution taken as an eighteen year old sufficed. It appears therefore a legacy of the absolute system introduced in 1660, the new monarch simply takes up where their predecessor left off.
The history of the Danish coronation rites and regalia both before and after 1660, and the modern post-1849 proclamation is outlined by Wikipedia at Coronation of the Danish monarch, at Danish Crown Regalia and at Coronation Chair of Denmark
I do regret that the tradition of holding a coronation ceased in Denmark after 1840. Its evolution after 1660 was typical of absolute monarchy at the time but a return to earlier practice would have been, to my mind, better than abandoning it altogether. It is only for funerals that the regalia is displayed.
I will conclude by praying for and wishing a long and happy retirement to Queen Margrethe II and a long and happy reign to King Frederik X and Queen Mary.
* I am reserving comments about some aspects of press coverage of these events for the next post.
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