By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Stine Jacobsen
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark’s newly proclaimed King Frederik X appeared earlier than the nation’s lawmakers on Monday, receiving the complete assist from the nation’s prime minister whose occasion has grappled with learn how to relate to the monarchy.
The assembly in parliament to rejoice the succession of the throne was the primary official activity of King Frederik, 55. He was proclaimed monarch on Sunday by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in entrance of roughly 174,000 cheering individuals who had converged on the capital in near freezing temperatures.
The king succeeded his mom, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, the primary Danish monarch in almost 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne.
Denmark has a constitutional monarchy, which signifies that the monarch as head of state should signal new legal guidelines earlier than they arrive into power however the formal energy stays with authorities and the elected parliament.
The brand new king and queen take the throne at a time of big public assist for the monarchy within the nation of almost six million.
“Our wonderful royal household is doing so properly that we could take the monarchy without any consideration. It isn’t a given, it stands and falls with the individuals who take accountability. And it rests on a mutual contract between monarchy and democracy,” Frederiksen stated in a speech in parliament on Monday.
The prime minister, in a separate speech on Jan. 1, stated she had not at all times supported the monarchy however had declared herself a royalist as a result of work Queen Margrethe had executed to unite Denmark.
Queen Margrethe’s recognition has grown regardless that she presided throughout a interval when the Danish welfare state, constructed on a basis of equality, grew to change into the usual of the Nordic nation.
Frederiksen’s Social Democratic occasion has for a century refused to take decorations from royals however reversed this coverage after the New Yr’s eve announcement of the abdication and it’s now as much as the members in the event that they want to obtain orders.
“The position of a king in a contemporary democratic society is a tough balancing act in itself. Add to this the challenges we face in Denmark and on this planet round us,” Frederiksen stated. “We very a lot want our king to unite Denmark.”
King Frederik addressed the crowds in a speech on Sunday however didn’t converse in parliament on Monday.
(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Modifying by Sharon Singleton)
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