Queen Margrethe II of Denmark to abdicate the throne on Jan 14
Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s abdication will take place this Sunday, January 14, with the day set to be a historic event full of pomp and pageantry. It will also mark her son, Crown Prince Frederik’s subsequent succession to the throne.
Royal watchers worldwide will be tuned in to see the very special day unfold as Frederik and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, will be named the new King and Queen of Denmark, after Margrethe’s 52 years of service.
Unlike Britain, there will be no formal coronation service for the new monarch and Frederik’s accession will be announced from Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen instead.
However, the day is expected to be filled with regal glory all over the country, especially its capital, Copenhagen, as the Danes celebrate their new monarch and bid farewell to another.
Here, Express.co.uk takes a look at everything that will happen on January 14.
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Queen Margrethe will abdicate the throne after 52 years of service
Royals start to travel to Christiansborg Palace – 13:35
At 13:35 Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary along with their son and currently second in line to the throne, Prince Christian, will ride in a motor car from Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace.
Two minutes later, The Queen will ride in a carriage from Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment.
Thousands of people are set to line the streets to catch a glimpse of Margrethe’s final procession ride as Queen of Denmark.
Margrethe became Queen of Denmark on January 14, 1972
Queen Margrethe officially abdicates at the Council of State – 14:00
Margrethe will formally abdicate at the Council of State and it will be the first time such an event has occurred in nearly 900 years.
She will be joined by Frederik and Christian in a meeting with the Government and the Council of State secretary.
The succession of the throne will take place during that meeting, after Margrethe has signed a declaration of her abdication.
At approximately 14:15 Margrethe will then depart and travel to Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg.
Shortly afterwards at 14:30 the new King and Queen will hold a levee for specially invited persons.
Queen Margrethe will be succeeded by her son Crown Prince Frederik
The new King’s official proclamation from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace – 15:00
Crown Prince Frederik will be proclaimed His Majesty King Frederik X from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace by the Danish prime minister.
Mary will become Her Majesty Queen Mary, while the couple’s eldest son, Prince Christian, will be named Crown Prince of Denmark.
The new king will then speak and conclude with a motto.
After the proclamation at 15:10, three times 27 shots will be fired from the Sixtus Battery on Holmen, Copenhagen, in salute.
At the same time, the royal standard will be lowered at Christian IX’s Palace and reraised at Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
From 15:30 the newly proclaimed King Frederik and Queen Mary will ride in a carriage, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s mounted squadron, from Christiansborg Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
Frederik and Mary will be named His Majesty King Frederik X and Her Majesty Queen Mary
The new King and Queen will ride in a carriage back to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg
Transfer of the royal colours – 17:00
From 5pm, the official transfer of the royal colours will be carried out from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
The change in colours symbolises a new monarch and is a tradition adopted by most European Royal Family’s.
The color of the family order ribbon changed in Britain when King Charles ascended the throne. His new order has not yet been debuted however, so the colour is yet unknown.
Tivoli Gardens will host its largest fireworks display in its 180-year history
Historic fireworks display at Tivoli Gardens – 18:00
Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens, the historic amusement park in Copenhagen, will mark the historic day in its own way.
The park is very close to Margrethe’s heart as since 2001, she’s been actively involved in designing costumes and scenography for numerous ballets and pantomimes there.
So at 6pm, as a way to celebrate the new king and queen and as an expression of gratitude to Queen Margrethe, the park will host its largest fireworks display in its 180-year history.
The fireworks extravaganza is anticipated to be visible not only across the entire Danish capital but also in several suburbs.
Queen Margrethe’s abdication day – timeline in full
13:35: The Crown Prince Couple leave from Amalienborg
13:37: HM The Queen rides in a carriage from Amalienborg
14:00: Council of State at Christiansborg Palace
14:15: Queen Margrethe’s departure from Christiansborg Palace
14:30: The King and Queen hold a levee for specially invited persons
15:00: Proclamation of HM King Frederik 10. from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace
15:10: Honorary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery and the royal standard is lowered and reraised at Amalienborg
15:30: The King and Queen ride in a carriage from Christiansborg Palace
17:00: Transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg