Best moments from King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark’s crowning
From the sensational balcony kiss to King Frederik’s tears, here are the biggest moments from the day Queen Mary was crowned.
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After 20 years of serving as Crown Princess of Denmark, Mary has been crowned Queen of Denmark.
As she stepped out onto the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, Queen Mary, alongside her husband King Frederik X, waved to the thousands of people that had amassed below.
She now becomes the first Australian-born queen in history.
Here are the best moments from Queen Mary and King Frederik’s historic day.
QUEEN MARGRETHE’S TEARS
The emotion was “palpable” as Queen Margrethe II signed the keys to the Kingdom over to King Frederik X and Crown Prince Christian.
The 83-year-old, who sat on the throne since 1972, was visibly emotional as she signed the Declaration of Abdication and stepped away from her son and grandson as the country’s new head of state and heir.
Queen Margrethe, dressed in a burgundy suit, signed the abdication at the head of the table during a meeting of the Council of State, as the new King Frederik sat by her side.
At that moment, the 52-year reign of Queen Margrethe II ended with her final words “long live the King”. It marked the first day of the reign of King Frederik X.
“My mother succeeded like few others in becoming one with her country,” King Frederik said in his first speech as Monarch.
“My hope is to become a unifying king for the future … It’s a responsibility I assume with respect, pride and a lot of happiness,” he said, repeatedly placing his hand on his heart as the crowd cheered.
PRINCE CHRISTIAN NEW HEIR
Crown Prince Christian set hearts ablaze as the new heir to the throne of Denmark became the most eligible bachelor in Europe.
The 18-year-old was the striking image of his father King Frederik X, who Prince Christian has replaced as the first in the royal family’s line of succession.
Tens of thousands who lined the streets erupted in cheers as Christian stepped out to join his parents in his first official public appearance as Crown Prince.
Queen Mary’s eldest son has been fending off rumours he was dating the glamorous Italian Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone delle Due Sicili, who has denied the relationship.
As the future King of Denmark, he earlier sat next to the King at the Council of State where Queen Margrethe II signed the official abdication.
The Crown Prince cast a comforting eye at his grandmother as she teared up at the official signing of the paperwork.
KING FREDERIK CRIES
King Frederik was seen wiping away tears as he spoke on the balcony at Christiansborg Palace.
The Danish King said: “My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It’s a task I’ve approached all my life. It’s a task I’ve taken on with pride, respect and joy.”
The King also paid tribute to his mother Margrethe II.
He said she would always be remembered as an “extraordinary” regent.
BALCONY KISS
After King Frederik’s speech, the Danish people got their first look at their new Queen, Mary.
She emerged onto the balcony at Christiansborg Palace amid a great roar from the crowd and smiled and waved happily.
Queen Mary and King Frederik were both seen to feel the emotion of the moment, holding their hands above their chests. They also joined hands above their heads.
And then the moment the crowd was waiting for: King Frederik and Queen Mary leant in for a heartfelt kiss.
The couple’s public display of love sent the crowd wild after weeks of speculation over an alleged affair, which has been vehemently denied by a Mexican socialite.
TWINS’ CUTE ANTICS
Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent had their father laughing uncontrollably as the twins led 150,000 Danes in a chant hailing the new king.
The 13-year-old twins had the monarch’s affection as the royal family greeted cheering crowds from the Balcony in Christian VIII’s Palace.
Older siblings Crown Prince Christian, 18, and Princess Isabella, 16, also joined the family but it was Josephine who shared a sweet moment with their father, resting her head on his chest after the long day of official duties.
The less formal appearance at Amalienborg Palace came after the official proclamation at Christiansborg Palace, where Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared the new King to the three corners of the globe.
PM ALBANESE’S MESSAGE
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the historic event would bring an enormous sense of pride to all Australians.
“Every one of those reports will mention the fact that Mary was a very proud Hobart person before becoming very much proud of her role as the Queen of Denmark, where she has carried herself in a way that I think just brings enormous support and pride to all Australians,” he said on Monday.
THOUSANDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE
An estimated 150,000 people — including Australians — braved freezing temperatures to line the streets on Sunday to catch a glimpse of Queen Margrethe in her last act as monarch, making her way to Christiansborg Castle in a mahogany carriage escorted by 48 horses from the Guard Hussar Regiment’s Mounted Squadron.
Crowds jammed the octagonal square outside Amalienborg hoping for a glimpse of their new-look royal family
Media from 79 countries covered the event, with the huge crowds and the spectacle contradicting earlier predictions it would be an event without much pomp and ceremony.
After the abdication, the new monarch, 55, was proclaimed king by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the balcony of the parliament building, Christiansborg castle, with the words “Long live his majesty King Frederik the 10th”.
Wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals, King Frederik X addressed the crowd from the balcony.
MARY’S DAD ABSENT
While there was no official Australian presence at a brief levée (ceremony) following the Council of State meeting, Queen Mary had a reminder of her former home in the presence of her sister Jane Stephens, a Hobart-based pharmacist who is also godmother to Crown Prince Christian.
Her father John was unable to attend because of poor health.
Originally published as Best moments from King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark’s crowning
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