Denmark’s newly proclaimed King Frederik X has appeared before the country’s MPs, receiving the full support from the prime minister whose party has grappled with how to relate to the monarchy.
The meeting in parliament to celebrate the succession of the throne was the first official task of King Frederik, 55.
He was proclaimed monarch on Sunday by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in front of roughly 174,000 cheering people who had converged on the capital in close to freezing temperatures.
The king succeeded his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne.
Denmark has a constitutional monarchy, which means that the monarch as head of state must sign new laws before they come into force but the formal power remains with government and the elected parliament.
The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support for the monarchy in the country of nearly six million.
“Our amazing royal family is doing so well that we may take the monarchy for granted. It is not a given, it stands and falls with the people who take responsibility. And it rests on a mutual contract between monarchy and democracy,” Frederiksen said in a speech in parliament on Monday.
The prime minister, in a separate speech on January 1, said she had not always supported the monarchy but had declared herself a royalist due to the work Queen Margrethe had done to unite Denmark.
Frederiksen’s Social Democratic party has for a century refused to take decorations from royals but reversed this policy after the New Year’s eve announcement of the abdication and it is now up to the members if they wish to receive orders.
“The role of a king in a modern democratic society is a difficult balancing act in itself. Add to this the challenges we face in Denmark and in the world around us,” Frederiksen said.
“We very much need our king to unite Denmark.”
King Frederik addressed the crowds in a speech on Sunday but did not speak in parliament on Monday.
“We begin our responsible work as Denmark’s king in the belief that the Danish parliament will meet us in joint work for the good of the kingdom,” the king said through the prime minister.
As is tradition, the monarch does not speak directly to MPs so Frederiksen read his speech.
The king referred to himself as “we” using what is known as the majestic plural.
Søren Gade, the Speaker of parliament, said to Frederik that “I have great confidence that he will be an excellent king for us all. And by his side has an excellent queen.”
Sitting next to the king was his Australian-born wife, Queen Mary.
Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, arrived at the Folketing in a royal limousine and were greeted by Gade and senior MPs.
Margrethe stood at the top of the stairs to the Christiansborg Palace and saw her son and daughter-in-law arrive.
Inside, the royals sat on the royal balcony overlooking the 179-member Folketinget assembly.
Frederik was smiling as he sat in the first row next to Mary and their oldest son, Crown Prince Christian who is 18.
Margrethe sat behind them.
The Speaker greeted Frederik with “Long live His Majesty King Frederik X” when the king presented himself.
The assembled MPs responded unanimously with “Hurrah!” repeated nine times.
Danish radio’s girls’ choir then sang for the royal family.
with AP and DPA
