Queen Mary and King Frederik X to be accepted by Denmark’s parliament after ascension

Less than 24 hours after a magical accession to the throne, King Frederik X and Queen Mary were to be formally accepted by Denmark’s politicians in parliament on Monday night (AEDT).

King Frederik X with Queen Mary on the balcony at Amalienborg Castle on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

King Frederik X and Queen Mary began their first duties as the monarchs of Denmark attending the Danish parliament after Frederik made a public acknowledgment of the support of his Tasmanian-born wife.

Less than 24 hours after a magical accession to the throne, witnessed by enthusiastic and adoring crowds, and sealed by two kisses, both initiated by an emotional king, their majesties were to be formally accepted by the politicians in an important acknowledgment of Denmark’s constitutional monarchy and the relationship of the royal family with the public.

The Speaker of the house was to officially welcome the new king and queen and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was to respond on their behalf, after which the parliamentarians met Frederik and Mary in the white salon of Landstingsalen looking out on to a parade of horses.

That close link of Frederik and Mary to the Danish people was evidenced in the early hours of Monday, Australian time, when an estimated 200,000 flag-waving wellwishers arrived from all over the country, and some who had flown in from Mary’s former home state Tasmania, for the abdication.

Along the short route of the celebratory carriage ride home for the new royal couple, the streets were so crowded it was almost as if the horses pulling the centuries-old carriage had to squeeze their way through.

Earlier the good-natured crowds, many complete with hot flasks to endure hours in freezing temperatures, were warmed by Frederik’s humble plea on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace where he spoke of his mother Margrethe and how she would be remembered as a “regent beyond the ordinary”. He told of how he needed the support of Mary, 51, for his elevated responsibilities as king.

He said: “I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future with the certainty that I am not alone.”

Frederik, 55, then drew in Mary, his wife of 20 years, for a celebratory kiss to the delight of all, with everybody well aware of the rocky time of late since his social engagements with a Mexican socialite in Spain.

King Frederik X with Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and Princess Josephine on the balcony at Amalienborg Castle on Sunday. Picture: AFP

Later at their palatial Frederik VIII residence in Amalienborg, following the formal transfer of the royal flags to their property, the couple once again stepped out on to the balcony to wave to the cheering and singing masses below.

This time the king kissed a fatigued Mary on the side of her forehead in a affectionate “well done” gesture. Mary had worn an understated yet elegant white wool dress with ruby jewel accessories – first created for the coronation of Napoleon – to reflect the Danish national colours of red and white and a brooch with a small illustration of Queen Margrethe for the momentous day.

Frederick, promoted on his accession to the rank of admiral, had worn his naval military dress with four stars. While much was made of their son and heir Christian becoming crown prince, their other children, Isabella, Josephine and Vincent, also became knights of the Order of the Elephant.

Among the many global congratulations were messages of support from heads of state and Scandinavian royals Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

They were effusive in their praise of how Frederik and Mary worked so well together.

“He is absolutely ready. It has clearly been a long time,” Victoria told Danish radio.

Haakon said Mary was “an impressive person, with a lot to contribute”.

Shortly after the proclamation several hundred Australians living in Denmark, many who had also moved across the world having fallen in love with a Dane, toasted the new king and queen at a function hosted by the Australian embassy.

Australian ambassador to Denmark Kerin Ayyalaraju said trade and diplomatic links between Denmark and Australia had been boosted by “the Mary effect”.

Alex Hackett, a plumber from Ballina in northern NSW, moved to Copenhagen two years ago to be with his Danish girlfriend, Annette.

“I feel like we are a bit like Mary and Frederik because I have met this fabulous Australian and I too have a French father and Danish mother, like Frederik,” Annette said.

“We saw everything, it was very cold, but we were very happy to see it all, it was so beautiful to see the carriage and horses. It has been a special day.”