King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark Make First Appearance as Monarch and Queen Consort

King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark make their debut as the new monarch and queen.

Shortly after Queen Margrethe officially stepped down by signing a declaration of abdication on Sunday, King Frederik stepped out onto the palace balcony alone. He waved to the cheering audience from the balcony, looked emotional and wiped away tears.

The Danish Prime Minister then stepped forward and announced the change of government from the balcony of Christiansborg Castle.

King Frederik (55) gave a short speech and announced his royal motto.

Then he was joined by his wife, Queen Mary. She wore a white ensemble for her first appearance as queen.

Afterwards, all four of the couple’s children – Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine – appeared on the balcony to wave to the crowd.

The crowd cheered when King Frederik and Queen Mary kissed.

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark kiss on January 14, 2024.

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty

Viral video captures shock across Denmark as Queen Margrethe announces abdication

The signing of the declaration of abdication and the proclamation that followed marked the official change of rule. Unlike King Charles last year, King Frederik and Queen Mary will not be crowned at the coronation ceremony.

Later on Sunday, the royal colors will be transferred from Christiana IX Palace (Queen Margrethe’s residence) to Frederik VIII’s Palace in Amalienborg (King Frederik’s residence).

Queen Margrethe, 83, became monarch on January 14, 1972, following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. She abdicated on the 52nd anniversary of the throne after announcing her shock decision to step down during a New Year’s speech.

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark make their first appearance as monarchs with children on January 14, 2024.

BO AMSTRUP/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty

“In February of this year, I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the professional medical staff who took care of me. The operation inevitably gave rise to thoughts about the future – will now be the right time to pass on responsibility towards to the next generation. I decided now is the right time,” she said, according to an English translation of the official transcript of the speech. “On January 14, 2024, 52 years after succeeding my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Although there have been famous Queen Marys in the past, this one will have the distinct first place as the only queen consort ever born in Australia.

Born Mary Donaldson, the new Danish queen was an Australian advertising executive before a chance encounter changed her life. She found herself chatting with Prince Frederik, although he introduced himself simply as “Fred”, at the Slip Inn in Sydney’s Darling Harbor in September 2000. The pub was full of people from all over the world who were in town for the Olympics.

“Something clicked,” Crown Princess Mary said in a 2005 interview. “It wasn’t fireworks in the sky or anything like that, but there was a sense of excitement.”

Denmark’s King Frederik first appears as ruler on January 14, 2024.

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty

Soon into their conversation, Mary learned that she was talking to the Crown Prince of Denmark, the heir to the 1,000-year-old Danish throne.

“The first time we met, we shook hands,” she said of their introduction. “I didn’t know he was a Danish prince. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are?’ ”

For a year, the couple met through a long-distance relationship that flew under the radar of the media.

“She came to know and love Frederik as the man he was, not as the heir to the throne,” Mary’s friend Chris Meehan later told the book’s authors Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark.

In 2002, Mary moved to Copenhagen, converted to a Lutheran church and learned Danish, a notoriously difficult language to master. The couple announced their engagement in 2003 and married the following year in Copenhagen Cathedral.

Denmark’s King Frederik first appears as ruler on January 14, 2024.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education