Denmark’s newly crowned King Frederik X and Queen Mary embarked on their inaugural official foreign visit to Stockholm, Sweden, as part of their first official duties as monarchs. Following Queen Margrethe II’s abdication, King Frederik, 55, ascended to the throne in January. The royal couple, who will also visit Oslo later this month, were warmly welcomed in Stockholm by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, and Crown Princess Victoria. The visit includes meetings with Swedish officials, such as the Prime Minister and the speaker of the Swedish Parliament, as well as a visit to a military facility.
The relationship between the Danish and Swedish royal houses is close, with ties dating back to King Frederik X’s grandmother, Queen Ingrid. The visit to Sweden marks the first official foreign trip for King Frederik and Queen Mary since ascending to the throne. The Danish monarchs traditionally make visits to other Scandinavian countries, with their first solo visit being to Poland earlier this year. The decision for King Frederik’s visit to Poland was made prior to his mother’s unexpected abdication on New Year’s Eve, making it his first foreign trip as ruler.
The royal visit to Stockholm included a ceremonial welcome, complete with a cannon salute and music by Sweden’s Royal Guards. The Danish delegation, which included government members such as Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, participated in various formal events planned for the visit. The visit to Sweden is part of King Frederik’s official duties, which also include meeting with key Swedish officials and representatives of the government.
Following their visit to Stockholm, King Frederik and Queen Mary will continue their official duties with a visit to Oslo, where they will be welcomed by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. Queen Margrethe II’s abdication marked the first voluntary relinquishment of the Danish throne in nearly 900 years, leading to the country’s first royal succession in over half a century. Denmark’s monarchy, which traces its origins back to Viking king Gorm the Old in the 10th century, is one of the oldest in Europe and in the world.
Overall, King Frederik X and Queen Mary’s inaugural official foreign visit to Stockholm and subsequent visit to Oslo mark the beginning of their official duties as Danish monarchs. The close relationship between the Danish and Swedish royal houses is evident in the warm welcome extended to the couple in Stockholm. The visit underscores the ceremonial role of the Danish monarchy and the importance of maintaining strong ties with neighboring Scandinavian countries. The visit to Sweden and Norway represents a continuation of this tradition, highlighting the royal couple’s commitment to fulfilling their duties as monarchs of Denmark.
