Fluoroscopy | The rock king

Denmark has a new king. Younger, more “common”, more tattooed. But what does this have to do with Yemen?

Name

Frederik André Henrik Christian, Frederik

Age

55 years

Function

King of Denmark

Distinctive signs

Continuity, simplicity, running, rock music

Why are we talking about it

Frederik X became King of Denmark this week. His coronation comes after the surprise abdication of his mother, Margrethe II, who announced her departure on December 31 after 52 years of reign, for health reasons. The last Danish sovereign to voluntarily renounce his functions was King Erik III… in 1146.

A ceremony followed

Tens of thousands of people cheered the new king and his wife during the ceremony. “It is a responsibility that I assume with respect, pride and a lot of joy,” said Frederik, wiping away a few tears. Please note that in Denmark, the inheritance protocol is different from that in the United Kingdom. The sovereign does not wear a crown, does not actually ascend a throne, and no foreign dignitary has been invited.

No debate

Even if some activists and political parties advocate for a republic, the Danish royal family arouses almost general acceptance, since 90% of the population would be in favor of the monarchy. “It’s one of the rare things that all Danes agree on,” sums up political scientist Kasper Møller Hansen of the University of Copenhagen with humor. Head of State, the monarch has an essentially representative and ceremonial role, but he promulgates laws and formally presides over the constitution of the government.

A different style

Tattooed, rock music fan and sports enthusiast (particularly running) Frederik X should bring a touch of modernity to the Danish monarchy. We can already see this through his mastery of social networks and communication channels. The new king thus cut short any media invasion this week by launching his memoirs, just a few days after his “coronation”. Kongeord (The king’s word) is already a bestseller in Denmark. “He knows how to attract public attention,” notes Møller Hansen. Its strategy and communications team are very professional. »

Make mom forget

Frederik succeeds a popular queen and resolutely follows tradition. But that will not prevent it from imposing its paw in certain sectors. “Her mother was more interested in classical culture, ballet, literature. Frederik will focus more on sports, climate change, more modern subjects,” argues historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, professor at Absalon University College. The new king would also like to renegotiate agreements with large Danish companies that exploit the symbols of the monarchy, such as LEGO, Tuborg, Carlsberg, Lurpak and Bang & Olufsen.

About normal

Frederik and his wife, Mary (Australian-born and the first Queen of Denmark not to be of nobility), always strove to present the image of a normal family. In particular, they could be seen on bikes, taking their children to school. According to experts, however, it will be difficult for the new king to preserve this normality given his interest in the eyes of the press. people. “He will have to find the right balance,” underlines Mr. Sørensen. The Danes don’t want the royal family to be on a pedestal. But at the same time, he must maintain a certain distance, to maintain a sort of aura. This will be his biggest challenge. »

A warship

The accession of Frederik X comes at a time when Denmark joins the anti-Houthi coalition led by London and Washington. This week, Copenhagen announced the dispatch of a frigate to the Red Sea, as well as the participation of a staff officer in planning operations. This decision caused friction in the Danish Parliament, where the opposition questioned the effectiveness of the vessel involved (theIver Huitfeldt), its missiles not having sufficient range to respond to attacks. “It’s not about sending a ship, but rather which ship we send,” summarizes Kasper Møller Hansen.

Despite its small population (6 million inhabitants), Denmark has the fifth largest merchant fleet in the world. Home of the shipowner Maersk, number two in global maritime transport which has temporarily stopped transiting the Red Sea, the country is particularly active in matters of maritime security.

With AFP, CP24, International mailBFM and kongehuset.dk