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BREAKING

Frederik X is King of Denmark after historic succession

King Frederik X has become the new Danish regent after his mother Queen Margrethe signed a declaration of her abdication.

Published: 14 January 2024 14:22 CET
Frederik X is King of Denmark after historic succession
Queen Margrethe leaves Christiansborg. Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix

Denmark turned a page in its history on Sunday as Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne and her son became King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes turning out for the unprecedented event.

The Queen attended a government council (statsråd) at the parliament in Copenhagen, Christiansborg, where she signed a declaration of her abdication.

At the moment she signed, Frederik became king.

King Frederik’s son Christian – now Crown Prince – was also present the council of state. Crown Prince Christian left Christiansborg by car just after 2:15pm, thereby confirming the council of state had been held and the abdication was effective.

Vast crowds filled the area around Christiansborg and streets between the palace and royal residence Amalienborg from Sunday morning, as Danes turned out in enormous numbers to witness the historic succession.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will not proclaim the new king, Frederik X from the balcony at Christiansborg. That is scheduled to take place at 3pm.

READ ALSO: What will happen and where as Denmark changes monarch on Sunday

Final procession

After a final procession in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Copenhagen, the hugely popular 83-year-old Queen Margrethe signed the declaration of
abdication — a first in 900 years in Denmark — ending her 52-year reign and automatically making her son monarch.

She then left the Council of State, also attended by the government, the new king, his wife Queen Mary and their 18-year-old son Crown Prince Christian.  

Queen Margrethe signs the declaration of her abdication at Christiansborg. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

She left the room with tears in her eyes, saying: “God bless the king.”

Australian-born Mary is the first commoner to become queen in Denmark.

“It’s just exciting that an ordinary person like us becomes a queen. It’s very exciting!” Judy Langtree, a retiree waiting outside Christiansborg who flew with her granddaughter from Brisbane, Australia to watch the succession, told news wire AFP.

READ ALSO: New era for Denmark as Queen Margrethe abdicates

Despite the freezing winter weather, huge crowds had gathered along the procession route and outside Christiansborg, bundled up in warm parkas and some wrapped in Danish flags to catch a glimpse of the new sovereign.

Copenhagen police had predicted a turnout of more than 100,000 people in the streets.

There was a heavy police presence in the capital, which was decked out in red-and-white flags for the occasion.

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BREAKING

UPDATE: Fire at Novo Nordisk HQ outside Copenhagen now ‘under control’

The fire at an administrative building at Novo Nordisk's headquarters in Bagsværd is now "under control", Copenhagen fire services have said.

Published: 22 May 2024 12:00 CEST
Updated: 22 May 2024 14:32 CEST
UPDATE: Fire at Novo Nordisk HQ outside Copenhagen now 'under control'

“After hours of hard work in the blazing sun, we have brought the fire under control,” Rasmus Storgaard, who is leading the emergency services’ efforts to extinguish the fire, told the broadcaster TV2. 

He said that his 70-strong team were now waiting for cranes that could help with the clean-up and extinguishing work, but that most of the necessary equipment and personnel were now in place, with some 20 fire engines involved. 

“With the capabilities that are now in the fight, you will probably see more or less normal operations out here again tomorrow,” he said .

Novo Nordisk told Ritzau that the fire had started outside a building and then spread to nearby office buildings. According to Novo Nordisk, the smoke is not toxic, and there are no injuries. 

In a written statement to DR Nyheder, Novo Nordisk said: “A fire broke out today outside a building at Novo Nordisk in Bagsværd. The fire has spread to an office building. The fire brigade is present and starting the extinguishing work, which is expected to last for the next few hours. The smoke is not toxic and there are no injuries.”

On the social media site X, Copenhagen Vestegns Police warned people to go inside and close doors and windows if they are in a smoky area.

Martin Kjærsgaard, the officer on duty for the fire services, told TV2 that the administrative building affected would either collapse or have to be demolished. He predicted at about 2pm that the fire would not be extinguished before 10pm at the earliest. 

“The entire roof has collapsed, but the floor below with offices and laboratories is not damaged by fire,” Storgaard told DR. 

Duty manager at Copenhagen Vestegns Police, Thomas Christensen said the smoke from the fire had caused some minor inconvenience to the traffic on the nearby Hillerød motorway. P4 Trafik has since updated on X that the smoke is no longer a problem for motorists.

The smoke disrupted traffic on Route 16, known in Denmark as the Hillerødmotorvejen. Photo: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix

On May 16th, another fire broke out on a roof at a new building being constructed by Novo Nordisk at its site in Kalundborg, creating a pillar of dark smoke that could be seen frm 30km away. 

A fire at a construction site at Novo Nordisk in Kalundborg on May 16th. Photo: Jokum Tord Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix

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