King Frederik X has now ascended the throne of Denmark. The new monarch had been the longest serving heir in Europe and the last time the line of succession in his realm altered was a decade ago. Let’s take a look at the updated list, the first line of succession to the throne of King Frederik X.
Crown Prince Christian
The new Crown Prince only celebrated his 18th birthday last October, at which time we were informed that his allowance and seat on the Council of State would only come to him at the age of 21 or a change in reign, whichever came first.
In his 18th birthday speech, the new Crown Prince promised: “I can’t deliver perfection, because what is perfection anyway, but I can promise dedication. I will give everything I have and learn everything I can.”
Princess Isabella
The elder daughter of King Frederik and Queen Mary, Princess Isabella is the first female whose place in the line of succession wasn’t superseded by the birth of a younger brother.
Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe, born in April 2007, is now second in line.
Prince Vincent
The younger son and third child of King Frederik and Queen Mary, Prince Vincent is only 26 minutes older than his twin sister, Princess Josephine.
The twins were born in January 2011 and turned 13 just days before their father became king. Prince Vincent of Denmark is now third in line.
Princess Josephine
The youngest child of King Frederik and Queen Mary, Princess Josephine is now fourth in line to the throne.
She was born in January 2011, just 26 minutes after her twin brother, Vincent.
Prince Joachim
The younger son of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik, Joachim was second in line for many years. He is now brother to the King.
Prince Joachim is fifth in line to the throne. The Danish prince lives and works in Washington, D.C. at the Danish embassy.
Count Nikolai
The oldest son of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Countess Alexandra, Count Nikolai spent a portion of 2023 in Australia—the homeland of his aunt and the current queen, Queen Mary.
The eldest grandchild of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, Count Nikolai of Monpezat is sixth in line to the throne.
Count Felix
The second son of Prince Joachim and Countess Alexandra currently works as a model and is seventh in line to the throne.
Count Henrik
The oldest son of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, the young count is named after his late grandfather, Prince Henrik. The young count lives in Washington, D.C., with his parents and younger sister and is eighth in line to the throne.
Countess Athena
The youngest child of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie was the last person to be added to the line of succession upon her birth in 2012.
(Det Danske Kongehus Instagram)
She is ninth in line to the throne and lives in Washington, D.C.
Princess Benedikte
Princess Benedikte is the younger sister of Queen Margrethe and retained her succession rights upon her marriage to Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.
At the time of her birth, none of the daughters of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid had succession rights—it was only changed in 1953 to ensure that Queen Margrethe would succeed her father; in 2009, absolute primogeniture became the law.
None of Princess Benedikte’s children are in the line of succession owing to rules created at the time of her marriage in 1968, namely, that they must be educated in Denmark. Since this rule was not followed, Prince Gustav, Princess Alexandra and Princess Nathalie are not eligible to succeed.