2024-01-02 10:55:00
What do you remember regarding the reign of Margrethe II?
52 years is a long reign. It was a reign that gave stability to Denmark. Margrethe II provided real social attention. It has embodied the evolution of the country over the last fifty years, smoothly, by accompanying the modernization of the country, but by allowing it to keep what makes it specific, its traditions. She is both a very simple sovereign, very in direct contact with the people and, at the same time, like the Danish monarchy, she can be sumptuous. We saw him once more Monday evening with the New Year’s dinner. She is also an artist and an intellectual and this is important because she gave an international boost, promoting Denmark throughout the world.
Following her abdication, there will no longer be a queen in Europe… Do you think this might have an impact on European monarchies?
It’s just a very masculine transition, which we will experience for a few years, but I believe that the future of monarchies is feminine. I hope, during my lifetime, to see Leonor of Spain or Elizabeth of Belgium arrive on the throne. There are other women arriving and there is even a women’s assembly being prepared: Catharina-Amalia in the Netherlands, Ingrid Alexandra in Norway. Just wait.
“We said to ourselves: ‘We’re canceling New Year’s Eve'”: the Danes in shock following the announcement of the abdication of Queen MargretheVarious polls have been published regarding Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. Some show a drop in its popularity. How to explain it?
There are several polls. While some note a drop in popularity, others show that he has 84% favorable opinions and that he is fully prepared for the role of King. The fall in its popularity is linked to different factors. First, there have been rumors of infidelity in recent weeks, which are false in my opinion because they are a real couple with the future Queen Mary. Above all, there was a family story that caused trouble last year. Besides, the Queen had to apologize, it was a fairly sensitive period. The Queen wanted to put things in order and bring together the idea of the royal family around Crown Prince Frederik, his wife and their children and to push Joachim, his wife Marie and their four children a little further apart. She therefore took away their titles as princes of Denmark. It was a real scandal. She didn’t deny anything in substance but she apologized regarding the method because they learned that in a somewhat brutal way. People then started saying that it was the crown prince who wanted to focus all the public attention on himself and not share the spotlight. This is what might, perhaps, have harmed its image.
How would you describe Frederik of Denmark?
You should know that he is a marathon runner, he is more athletic than intellectual. So there is a change in continuity, it’s not at all the same style as his mother. However, he has a reputation for being very close to people, even more than his mother was. While she often traveled in a very official manner, he mingled with the crowd, he was very close to the Danish people.
What will be the big challenges for the future King?
In Denmark, the monarchy has a very important moral representative role. The King (or Queen) embodies the nation and we always turn to him in times of difficulty. It is on the political and intellectual level that Frederik will have to take matters into his own hands. He will have to truly embody the history of Denmark. It is also important for a King to recall the history of the kingdom, as the Queen did in her speech by mentioning the role of her grandfather Christian X during the war. Where I don’t worry much regarding him, however, is that he is resolutely focused on climate change, on the ecological transition. He is a man of his time, aware of the country’s challenges and who will support them. In any case, I think he will be a very popular King.
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