It’s been a busy week for the Danish royal couple who has just inaugurated the summer season on board the Royal Yacht Dannebrog, which set sail from Nordre Tolbod (the historic part of the port of Copenhagen near the Little Mermaid) towards Helsingør and then arrived at the summer residence of Fredensborg Castle, where the royals will settle for a few months, as tradition dictates. On this occasion Frederik and Mary, for the first time as king and queen, gave their first interview on board the boat to the Danish television channel TV2, taking stock of these months of reign and indulging in the memories and emotions that marked their beginning. More than a hundred days have now passed since, last January 14th, after the abdication of Queen Margrethe, Mary and Frederik appeared on the balcony of Christanborg Palace for the proclamation and the homage of the people. In recent months the royals needed time to become familiar with their new roles and to find a direction for their kingdom. Did they succeed? The answer is in this interview, which has fascinated royal fans, from which emerges their teamwork but also their dreams and the desire to sail far away together as a modern royal couple… King Frederik and Queen Mary are now at sea and they sail towards new destinations with confidence, putting behind them the storm that a few months ago risked ruining everything (the alleged relationship between the then Prince Frederik and Genoveva Casanova).
Frederik X of Denmark, the unpublished photos of his accession to the throne
The Danish Royal House has shared some shots taken from a privileged point of view, the interior of Christiansborg Palace, where the new sovereign was proclaimed on January 14
King Frederik at the helm of the kingdom
In the interview, which lasted 16 minutes and was carried out on board the yacht Dannebrog, the same ship on which the king sailed when he was a child, the two royals, sitting side by side, touched on various topics and talked about how they experienced this first period as king and queen of Denmark. The king began with a childhood memory aboard the Dannebrog in which he and his brother Joachim loved to watch the crew at work up close. As children they would run around the deck with the staff, cleaning the brass and washing the deck. A sincere and affectionate testimony which shows how much the king cares about this ship and the memories it holds. “It is a great joy to board the Dannebrog. It’s something very special. It gives me the feeling of really being at the helm and this makes me feel safe and protected.” The Queen, however, delved into memories of the many moments spent with her family on the yacht, thinking back to her when on a hot summer day she and her children enjoyed jumping into the deep blue water from the ship’s diving board.
The emotions of the day of the proclamation
For the first time the king and queen also spoke about the emotions they experienced on January 14th, the day of the proclamation. “We believe we have started well, also thanks to the support and warmth we have felt everywhere,” said the Queen. Among many memories of that historic day, Mary chooses one that will remain in her heart forever. “I was with the boys in the throne room as Frederik was about to step out onto the balcony to his doom and was greeted with warmth and joy. We could hear everything that was happening outside even though we couldn’t see anything. It was beautiful and I was so happy and proud.” Even King Frederik does not hide the emotion of those moments “he It was very emotional. I felt welcome.” “Maybe the highlight was when I went out onto the balcony and the boys were right behind me while in front I had the Danish people clapping and waving. One of the strongest experiences of my life.”
Their future plan
Talking about their work carried out in these months of reign, the queen admitted that “it was overwhelming”. “It’s all new. There have been many changes and we have made several decisions, big and small. We are still in a transition phase that will settle sooner or later. It can’t all happen in an instant”. Even King Frederik, despite having prepared for this all his life, working closely with his mother, Queen Margrethe, confesses to the journalist that one is never truly ready for such a role and suddenly finding oneself head of state is not as easy as it sounds. “There are many new things, which at the same time are familiar to me. For me there is the Council of State. There are hearings. These tasks are part of my duties but they are new. I assumed my role with humility, but also with loyalty.” And then projecting themselves into the future, the royals showed a sharing of interests by talking about theirs desire to safeguard nature, history, culture and traditions while at the same time looking towards the future.
When asked what plans they have for the time to come, the couple remains vague. You say that you still don’t have clear and precise ideas. “We have not set a precise path, but we have given good direction to our kingdom. We will continue to follow the path we have taken. Our interest in nature, communities and business. We want to be a royal couple visible and present throughout Denmark”, an intent that will become reality with the next summer cruise that will visit Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
They talk for the first time like a real couple
This first interview with the royal couple has revealed some interesting data. Berlingske commentator Jakob Steen Olsen noted two notable aspects in particular. The first is that “we” that he echoes in the interview. “It is interesting to note how in the answers they underline that they are a couple. The king, with the queen at his side, has repeatedly and consciously used the pronoun “we”, presenting himself as a modern and equal couple. The two royals are working as a team, side by side, and showing that to the world was also very important.” The expert also notes another aspect that deserves attention. And it’s the way the king and queen have chosen to handle their communication. Since that January 14th which marked the accession to the throne of Frederik, the press had no opportunity to ask the couple any questions and this is part of a precise communication strategy which wants to proceed in stages like a story that begins slowly and then gradually excite. “At the beginning we experienced the emotion of Queen Margrethe’s farewell. Then the gaze turned to the new royal couple with the proclamation ceremony. Immediately afterwards there was a period of stabilization in which the two royals almost disappeared. Perhaps with the intention of saying: “Now we don’t want to exaggerate with all this attention but also, according to the expert, to avoid uncomfortable questions and delicate topics in an early phase of the reign in which they were not yet ready…”. And now we see the couple again, who are back on the royal scene stronger and more confident than ever, ready to cope with a series of commitments which will be a launching pad for them towards the future.
The move to the summer residence in Fredensborg
The royal couple boarded the Royal Yacht Dannebrog respecting tradition. Queen Mary, with a navy blue polka dot midi dress and a delightful white hat that reminded many of the classic looks of the Princess of Wales, and King Frederik, in military uniform, went from the car to the lifeboat which took them to royal ship in front of many journalists and photographers lined up along the pier. Once the couple boarded, the royal flag was hoisted and 27 cannon shots were fired. The number of hits is not random but represents the triad “God, king and country”, three blows for God, three for the king and three for the country, repeated three times. The ship then headed towards Helsingør and from there towards Fredensborg Castle, where a small ceremony was held linked to the presentation of the royal summer residence.
The next commitments: the two state visits from friends in the North
This period will be full of commitments and will see the royal couple soon embark again on the Dannebrog yacht to sail towards Stockholm. On May 6th and 7th, the King and Queen will be in Sweden for their first official state visit. Here they will meet the Swedish royal family, the prime minister and participate in the usual gala dinner. “The visit will be busy and the program will reflect common interests in the field of nature and sustainable development.” The following week, on 14 and 15 May, they will set sail for Norway where they will make another state visit. A commitment that sounds more like a pleasure trip, in which the Danish couple will be guests of Nordic friends with whom there has always been a special bond. “We feel comfortable in Scandinavia. We are not just royalty but family. Our children have become friends. We have a beautiful, very relaxed relationship when we meet,” confirmed King Frederik. On May 20, the couple will participate in the annual marathon, the Royal Run, and on May 26, King Frederik’s 56th birthday will be celebrated. But the summer program is not over yet. In mid-June, the royals will once again depart aboard the royal yacht to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
