Denmark’s newly proclaimed King, Frederik X, appeared before lawmakers on Monday as festivities around his enthronement continue, according to Bloomberg.
Frederik visited the parliament in Copenhagen alongside other members of the royal family, including his wife, Queen Mary, and mother, the now-abdicated Queen Margrethe II.
Speaking at the legislature, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised the new royal couple for being both an ideal for the population and at the same time “ordinary” and “at eye level” with Danes.
“King Frederik enjoys very large and broad support from the population,” Frederiksen said, adding that he makes many “feel seen.” She ended her speech by relaying a short message from the new monarch. The session in parliament was then followed by a reception for the royal family, members of parliament and other guests.
Frederik, 55, ascended to the throne on Sunday afternoon after Margrethe signed a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Palace in central Copenhagen — a first for the Nordic country in almost 900 years. Massive crowds of jubilant Danes who’d traveled from across the country welcomed their new sovereign as he was proclaimed king by the prime minister on the palace’s balcony.
“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” the king said in his accession speech on Sunday, a more secular one than his mother used to give. A closely watched element of the address was King Frederik’s royal motto, a centuries-old tradition in the Danish monarchy that underpins a new ruler’s reign: “United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.”
The king’s job will be to represent Denmark at national and international events and to sign all legislation passed in parliament by democratically elected lawmakers. Formally, the monarch also appoints the prime minister and cabinet members, though in practical terms he has no political power.
There will be no coronation for the new sovereign, the practice having been stopped in Denmark more than a century ago.