Prince Frederik and Princess Mary’s ‘shock’ over abdication
The incoming King and Queen of Denmark didn’t have a lot of time to adjust to Queen Margrethe’s stunning abdication but it’s not the first time the monarch has surprised her family.
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Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II told her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik he would be King three days before she publicly announced she would be stepping down.
Europe’s longest reigning monarch told the heir apparent and his brother, Prince Joachim, she was quitting the throne due to ill health, just days before she announced it to the world in her annual New Year’s Eve speech.
The news is said to have come as an “expected shock” to Crown Prince Frederik’s wife Mary, who will be crowned Queen Consort beside him at Christiansborg Palace on Sunday.
The royal house’s head of communications Lene Balleby confirmed that Queen Margrethe “informed both the Crown Prince and Prince Joachim about the decision on 28 December”.
According to previous statements made by Prince Joachim, it isn’t the first time that “Daisy” – as she is affectionately known to family and close friends – has given her family short notice before announcing significant decisions.
In 2022, the royal house announced that Queen Margrethe had decided to strip Prince Joachim’s children of their royal titles, replacing them with their noble titles, Count and Countess.
Queen Margrethe’s decision was a surprise to Prince Joachim, with the royal later stating in interviews that his children were bullied at school over the apparent “demotion” and the monarch later said she regretted the way she handled the situation.
“I was given five days’ notice [about] this,” Prince Joachim at the time.
“It came out of the blue.”
The royal family did not discuss Queen Margrethe’s decision to abdicate with one royal house insider saying: “She only made up her mind shortly before her New Year’s speech, and her sons have been included in her thoughts in some other way.”
Somewhat surprisingly, when the 83-year-old monarch vacates the throne and her eldest son assumes the title of HM King Frederik X in a simple balcony appearance from Christiansborg Palace, King Charles and Queen Camilla will not be present.
Kensington Palace confirmed Crown Princess Mary’s royal ally, Princess Catherine, and Prince William “are busy” and would also be unable to attend.
Although a modest affair compared to pomp and ceremony that marked King Charles’s coronation in May, the no show from British royals to the Danish succession has “raised eyebrows”.
“The Danish change of throne is a low key affair and it’s not unusual for British royals not to attend European coronations, but it’s raised eyebrows in Danish royal circles, that King Charles, who is the Danish Queen’s third cousin once removed, isn’t going,” said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
“Queen Margrethe and Queen Elizabeth were very close friends and the relationship between the two families continues to be close.
“Margrethe attended the Queen’s funeral with her son Crown Prince Frederik but couldn’t make the King’s coronation because she was suffering from a bad back but she sent her son and daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary.
“It doesn’t bode well that they won’t be attending the succession but then the Danes are much more down to earth when it comes to royal ceremonies.”
The British and Danish royals have maintained friendly and cordial relations.
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe were close and attended state visits and official events together.
Prince Philip was also a cousin of Queen Margrethe and attended a dinner party held in honour of her 60th birthday in 2000.
Meanwhile, Crown Princess Mary’s eldest sister Jane Stephens, 58, is preparing to fly in from Hobart to watch her sister be crowned HM Queen Mary.
The newly acceded royal couple will hold their first cure for “special guests” after they are crowned at Christiansborg Palace who are said to include European dignitaries and friends and speaker of the Danish parliament and prime minister.
Initial reports suggested the Australian ambassador to Denmark, Kerin Ayyalaraju, was too busy to attend. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed foreign representatives were not invited.
A party marking the succession for Australians and business people in Denmark will be held at her residence Helsinkigade on Sunday afternoon.
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