The Royalty Nerd

Queen Margrethe ended her 52 year reign today with a simple signature.

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She left the room before Frederik signed his name, officially becoming King Frederik X of Denmark. His eldest son and heir, now Crown Prince Christian, sat beside him.

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There was an excellent turn out, with easily a few thousand Danes showing up to watch their new King step on to the balcony. There is nothing extravagant about the process of welcoming a new monarch in Denmark. Rather, the prime minster will lead a proclamation on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. Above, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen led the proclamation.

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The new Queen Mary joined him to very loud cheers from the crowd. She was wearing pieces from the Danish ruby suite of jewels and a dress designed by Soeren Le Schmidt and sewn by Birgit Hallstein, the designer who created her wedding dress.

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They were joined by their children, from left to right: Princess Isabella, the new Crown Prince Christian, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent.

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Since Queen Margrethe announced her plans to step down during her New Years Eve speech, the outpouring of love and appreciation for her was overwhelming from Danes and royal watchers everywhere. She was a staple, an icon, and a beloved Queen to her subjects. She had her reasons for stepping down, and while I respect it, I know I’m not the only one that is going to greatly miss Queen Daisy.

Personal Opinion Ahead:

Denmark does not have a tradition of abdication, and perhaps that’s why this moment felt a little anti-climatic to me. While the proclamation of a new Danish monarch isn’t anything to write home about either, it just felt odd to see such a vibrant and beloved icon go out with not so much of a bang, but a whisper. It’s of course nice to see that Margrethe is able to enjoy her time with her family now unencumbered by the responsibilities of a monarch rather than watching her funeral. It’s just that this morning felt like I was watching a business transaction rather than a historic royal event. There’s something to be said about the pomp and circumstance of a British coronation (and I’m definitely biased towards this, it’s what got me interested in royalty to begin with) or even a Dutch inauguration. I’m hopeful for the new reign in Denmark, but this morning was just sort of…a thing that happened in Denmark and now I’m writing about it. Perhaps over time my opinion will change.