Accession of the King of Denmark is sealed with an awkward kiss
DENMARK’S new King had just brushed away a tear after announcing his accession to the throne when he turned to his wife for a kiss.
But just as Frederik X leaned in to seal the historic occasion on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, Mary appeared to turn away from him. After a brief moment of confusion, Danes in the streets below whooped and cheered when the kiss finally landed.
The awkward encounter came during an otherwise smooth transition of power in Copenhagen yesterday. However, it may have sent tongues wagging after the royal handover was partly tarnished by claims of infidelity. “It took a few tries before the royal couple found the rhythm,” one Danish newspaper remarked.
Denmark’s royal family is overwhelmingly popular, with 80 per cent of Danes in support of it. But rumours have swirled for months about an alleged affair between Frederik and Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova, after they were spotted on an evening out in Madrid in October.
The Danish royal household declined to comment on the alleged tryst, though Ms Casanova has rejected the speculation as “malicious” and strongly denies any affair. Some have speculated the accession was designed to keep the royal family together.
As many as 100,000 Danes had gathered around Christiansborg yesterday, with silver confetti released amid thunderous cheers when Frederik addressed the nation for the first time.
“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” Frederik, a former Frogman – a Danish Navy Seal – told the cheering crowds, dressed in a ceremonial military uniform and medals. “It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. It is a deed I will make an effort to carry through the trust I encounter,” he added.
Although spirits were high in the crowd, this was a fairly low-key accession to the throne in comparison to the Coronation of King Charles, with no crown or sceptre in sight. Denmark’s royal family prides itself on being close to the people and adopting a more understated approach.
“I think he’s an amazing guy, very down to earth and sporty. He’s really interested in people,” said Tina Slott, a 43-year-old surveyor company worker.
“Even though he’s becoming the king he’s still going to participate in the royal run,” she said, referring to an annual event where Frederik races alongside regular Danes.
Scottish-danish airport worker John Paul Houston, 59, said his opinion of the Danish royals had grown much warmer over the years. “They are great representatives, the Danish royal family are much more in touch with the country while [British royals] seem a bit more distant,” said the Glaswegian.
“You can see here today the support they have got from young, old and everyone in between.”
“I think he will do well,” said Marianne Pedersen, 62, a media graphics designer, of King Frederik. “He has been growing up very shy and insecure and feeling awkward, and when he met Mary he got the confidence and formed into who he is today ... now he’s got a big job keeping his popularity because the only way he can go is down.”
Queen Margrethe shocked Denmark when she announced she would abdicate the throne in a New Year’s Eve address, making her the first Danish monarch to relinquish the throne of her own free will in some 900 years. Even her own family were only informed three days prior to the announcement.
While there was no sign of any members of the British Royal family at the event, a 1958 Rolls-royce known as the “Great Crown” was used in the procession. King Charles and Queen Camilla did send a message of congratulations to the couple conveying their “very best wishes on the day of your accession”.