Prince Frederik: Who is Denmark’s next king

Despite a 55-year preparation to become king, Crown Prince Frederik spent decades uncomfortable with his role’s huge public attention before meeting his Aussie wife, Mary.

When Crown Prince Frederik is proclaimed His Majesty King Frederik X, it will be a new man that will stand on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace to wave to adoring subjects.

The 55-year-old has had a lifetime to prepare for the moment but royal watchers say it has taken him that long to get accustomed to the idea of being the reigning monarch.

His dedication to the throne and a vow he made to his mother Queen Margrethe to carry the 1000-year-old royal institution was never in doubt but he will now have to carry that duty with greater aplomb.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arrive at the gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace in 2022. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP

There will likely be less impromptu appearances at sporting events and training sessions for which he is infamous and more official hosting and trips for brand Denmark and pursuit of passions including the environment and climate change on the global stage.

There will definitely not be any late night dinner dates or catch ups with female acquaintances like those with Mexican-born socialite Genoveva Casanova that have in recent weeks fuelled claims of an affair, which Casanova has vigorously denied.

She wasn’t the first to have sparked rumours involving the prince but will be the last.

“He is remembered in Denmark for being a very, very big playboy when he was younger,” British-based royal commentator Phil Dampier said.

“He was always being pictured with dozens of different models and strippers and all sorts of glamorous women and so he had a long period of playing about. That was just about forgotten and people bought into the fairytale marriage and are more tolerant of him but deep down they haven’t forgotten or forgiven him, and they won’t be happy about rumours he has been unfaithful.”

The pair met almost 25 years ago during the Sydney Olympics. Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP / Denmark

While he will be forced to change his ways in this aspect, those close to the royal court say it is unlikely he would change his overall approach to redefine a modern 21st Century liberal monarchy and embody his country’s relaxed style.

While Frederick recognises his title could never allow a normal life, he has long vowed that he and his family would strive to lead an ordinary life.

The future king has been seen at the local shops, cycling his children to school – a public one not private – and holidaying locally including at the village of Tisvilde on the island of Zealand, a favourite low key location much loved by the now king.

Crown Prince Frederik with his two youngest children at Graasten Castle, in the southern part of Jutland. Picture: Weng Uffe

When there is a changing of the guard pomp at royal summer retreat Grasten Palace, it was not uncommon for the then Crown Prince in T-shirt and loafers and his sons to appear on the sidelines of the public throng to watch.

“Most Danes would find themselves in this picture of a family, they try to be as normal as possible and Danes like that and recognise that, of course it can’t all be normal but they try to the extent as possible,” Danish TV personality Lasse Nielsen said of the impromptu public appearances of the royal family.

As a young man Frederik was never comfortable with the media or great public attention, nor with the thought of one day becoming king.

He has always disliked the scrutiny, more so when as a young playboy whose only love had been fast cars, sport and a string of girlfriends from which he was publicly considered a spoiled brat.

Then came Mary, and as Crown Prince he was only too happy to allow his beautiful Australian-born wife to take the limelight in the media and grace the covers of the glossy magazines.

The Crown Prince was only too happy to allow his beautiful Australian-born wife to take the limelight after they met. Photo: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

But in more recent times had taken on a more serious tone as his mother’s poor health signalled there might be a change at the top.

He is well known to be passionate about promoting Denmark, particularly in the fields of technology and financial services but his attendance at European Business forums will now take on added importance befitting his new title.

– additional reporting Danielle Gusmaroli