Royal fever grips Denmark as country prepares to party before Frederik and Mary’s coronation
Royal mania is reaching fever pitch in Denmark as the country prepares for its biggest party in decades to celebrate the crowning of King Frederik X and his Australian-born wife, Queen Mary.
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Denmark has been gripped by royal fever as it prepares for the biggest party in decades to celebrate the crowning of King Frederik X and his Australian-born wife Queen Mary.
Hotels are booked out, the train network has added extra services and the streets of Copenhagen are a riot of colour as the countdown to the historic event continues.
The proclamation ceremony itself may be a typically low-key Danish affair but that has not quelled the enthusiasm of excited royal fans wanting to take part in the action.
And it’s not all without spectacle.
More than 100,000 fans are expected to line the procession route to get a close-up look of the newly crowned Queen Mary and King Frederik as they travel back to Amalienborg Castle in the golden wedding anniversary coach.
Built in 1892 for King Christian IX and Queen Louise, the black-lacquered mahogany coach bears the Danish coat of arms and is adorned with gold tassels and red silk velvet.
Queen Margrethe will travel in the coach as she heads to the ceremony where she will officially abdicate and hand over to her son.
The interior of the magnificent coach will then be lit up with electric lights as the King and his Tasmanian-born Queen wave to the crowds as they make their way back to their residence.
Hotels in Copenhagen are fully booked for Sunday’s event.
Staff at the Admiral Hotel said the switchboard started buzzing the moment Queen Margrethe shocked the world during her televised annual address on New Year’s Eve by announcing she would step down as monarch.
“I was watching it myself, she was there on television talking in a purple frock, saying something about ‘the right time’ and the phones starting ringing,” said receptionist Nicklas Keng.
The five-star Marriott Copenhagen is almost booked out by international tourists, while the two-star Nebo hotel was booked out the morning after the abdication announcement.
“I didn’t know what was going on, I wasn’t the sharpest on January 1 after New Year’s Eve, I couldn’t handle the bookings quick enough,” said reservations staffer Lars.
Danish State Railways executives are frantically attaching three extra carriages to each train to move more people into the coastal capital for the proclamation with tickets for major routes into Copenhagen sold out.
“You can still get a train in but you’ll have to stand, there are no seats left,” said customer services staff Heidi Benneke.
Police have urged the public to ditch their cars and bicycles to avoid traffic chaos.
The Copenhagen Visitor Service Centre is reporting an unseasonal surge in tourists descending on the city.
“It’s wonderful for tourism in Copenhagen, mid-January is normally dead but people are excited and coming in from far, from Jutland and Funen, to see Queen Margrethe for the last time in a carriage,” said tourist officer Tim Larsen.
Domestic flights to the capital have also been confirmed sold out.
Originally published as Royal fever grips Denmark as country prepares to party before Frederik and Mary’s coronation
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