He was baptised on 24 June 1968, at Holmen Church, in Copenhagen.[8] He was named Frederik after his maternal grandfather, King Frederik IX, continuing the Danish royal tradition of the heir apparent being named either Frederik or Christian.[b] He became Crown Prince of Denmark when his mother ascended to the throne as Margrethe II on 14 January 1972. Frederik's only sibling is Prince Joachim of Denmark.[9]
Frederik attended primary school at Krebs' Skole between 1974 and 1981, as a private pupil at Amalienborg Palace from 1974 to 1976, and from the third form again at Krebs' Skole.[10] From 1982 to 1983, he attended the École des Roches [fr], a boarding school in Normandy, France.[10] In 1986, Frederik graduated from Øregård Gymnasium.[10] In addition to Danish, he is fluent in French (his father's language), English, and German.[11]
In the autumn of 1989, Frederik began studying political scienceatAarhus University.[12] As part of his education, he spent the 1992–1993 academic year at Harvard University, where he studied political science under the name Frederik Henriksen. Whilst at Harvard, he participated in the Phoenix – SK Club, and lived in a rent-controlled apartment.[13] Frederik is the first Danish royal to complete a university education.[11]
Frederik took up a position for three months with the Danish UN mission in New York in 1994.[14] In 1995, he obtained his MSc degree in political science from Aarhus University. He completed the course in the prescribed number of years with an exam result above average, thus becoming the first royal to obtain a master's degree. His final paper was an analysis on the foreign policy of the Baltic States, which he had visited several times during his studies.[15][12] The prince was posted as First Secretary to the Danish Embassy in Paris from October 1998 to October 1999.[16][17]
Frederik has completed extensive military studies and training in all three services, including training as a frogman in the naval elite special operations forces Frømandskorpset. It was there that he earned the nickname "Pingo", when his wetsuit filled with water and he was forced to waddle like a penguin.[18]
In 2001 and 2002, he completed further leadership training at the Royal Danish Defence College. Frederik remained active in the defence services, and in the period 2002–2003 served as a staff officer at Defence Command Denmark, and from 2003 as a senior lecturer with the Institute of Strategy at the Royal Danish Defence College.[19][20][21]
The couple have four children: Christian (born 15 October 2005), Isabella (born 21 April 2007) and twins Vincent and Josephine (born 8 January 2011).[14]
The proclamation of King Frederik X from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace on 14 January 2024.
Queen Margrethe II announced her abdication during her annual live broadcast New Year's Eve address on 31 December 2023. Frederik succeeded her as King of Denmark during a Council of State on 14 January 2024 during which Margrethe officially signed a declaration of her abdication.[22]
After succeeding to the throne, he was proclaimed King from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as has been the custom for Danish monarchs since the introduction of the constitutional monarchy in 1849. His motto is "Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark" (English: "United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark"), the first motto that does not mention God since Frederik VII.[23]
On 15 January, the royal family appeared in Parliament for a ceremony marking the change of monarch.[24] On 21 January, the royal family attended a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral, led by the Bishop of Aarhus and Royal Chaplain-in-Ordinary, Henrik Wigh-Poulsen.[25]
On 31 January 2024, the new king visited Poland in his first overseas trip as monarch where he was received by president Andrzej Duda. Danish monarchs traditionally travel first to another Scandinavian country, but Frederik had planned the trip prior to Margrethe's abdication.[26]
The King and Queen made their first state visits in May 2024, visiting Sweden and Norway. In June, they plan to tour the autonomous territories of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.[27][28][29]
Scientific research, climate change and sustainability[edit]
Prince Frederik arriving at Nordic Climate Solutions, 2009
Prince Frederik and Princess Mary admire the night skies of ESO's Paranal Observatory, 2013[30]
Frederik has a special interest in scientific research, climate change, and sustainability.[31] For his commitment to sustainability, he was interviewed by the Financial Times and CNN International's Future Cities program.[32][33] He participated in expeditions, forums and events on climate.[32][34][35][36] The prince has represented Denmark as a promoter of sustainable Danish energy.[37][38][39] The prince was one of the authors of the Kongelig Polartokt (Polar Cruise Royal), about the challenges of climate, published in 2009 with a preface written by Kofi Annan.[40][41][42] In 2010, he wrote the foreword to the highschool textbook Naturen og klimaændringerne i Nordøstgrønland (Nature and climate change in Northeast Greenland).[43] He supports scientific research projects, as a patron, as expeditionary, with regular attendance at events and through his foundation, Kronprins Frederiks Fond.[44]
Frederik is an avid sportsman,[54] running marathons in Copenhagen, New York, and Paris, and completing the 42 kilometers with a respectable time of 3 hours, 22 minutes and 50 seconds in the Copenhagen Marathon.[1][55] In 2013, he completed the KMD Ironman Copenhagen in the time of 10:45:32 and is the first royal person to complete an Ironman.[56]
Frederik is a keen sailor, being a competitive Farr 40 skipper as well as an accomplished Dragon boater.[57] At the 2003 Dragon European Championship, where 51 boats participated, the Prince and his crew had been leading after four out of six races; they finished in fourth place.[58] At the 2008 Farr 40 World Championship with 33 boats participating, Frederik and his crew also took fourth place.[59][60] He was the first in his class boat in Fyn Cup 2010 in Denmark,[61][62][63] and number 4 in the 2011 Danish Dragon Championship with 25 boats participating.[64][65]
In 2016, on the subject of the Olympics in Rio, Frederik told the press that he did not regret not chasing his dream to compete in the Olympics after meeting his wife. He had always thought about training and competing, but that would have required him to limit his activities and concentrate on training, instead, he put his energy into other aspects of life.[66] In October 2016, Frederik had to cancel his appearance at the royal reception for the Danish Olympic and Paralympic athletes after he fractured his spine while jumping on a trampoline with his eldest son.[67]
Prince Frederik as member of the International Olympic Committee, 2020
On 9 October 2009, Crown Prince Frederik was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee, replacing former Danish member Kaj Holm, who had reached the age of retirement.[79] The Crown Prince's candidature was met with some skepticism in Denmark, as it would mean that the Crown Prince would be on a semi-political committee along with several people who are suspected or even convicted of criminal acts.[80] Another concern was whether or not the Crown Prince's loyalty would be towards his country and government, as the Danish constitution prescribes, or with the International Olympic Committee, as is sworn upon election to the committee.[80] The Crown Prince was given special observer status in National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark, as a way to allow him to work, without having political power.[81]
Frederik announced that his point of focus and reason for joining the International Olympic Committee is to promote an active lifestyle among youth. He was elected for an eight-year term, and made it clear that he would terminate his membership upon ascending the Danish throne.[82]
On 19 June 2017, the Crown Prince announced that he would continue another term of 8 years.[85] However, in 2021, Frederik was announced that he would step down as an active member of the International Olympic Committee at the committee's annual session prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics, citing a wish to intensify his everyday work as the reason for stepping down in the middle of his term.[86]
In celebration of his 50th birthday, on 21 May 2018, Frederik initiated a public running event across five cities in Denmark called Royal Run [da; de] with more than 70,000 participants, including himself and his own family.[87] The event was generally deemed as "exceeding expectations" by the public.[88][89]
The Crown Prince participated in an expedition to Mongolia in 1986.[96] In 2000, the Crown Prince participated in "Expedition Sirius 2000", which was a four-month and 2,795 km dog-sledge expedition in the northern part of Greenland. The expedition Sirius marked the 50-year anniversary of the Sirius Patrol. Prince Frederik was part of the polar expedition as a film photographer, whose job was to ensure an optimal coverage of this event.[97][98]
The purpose of the foundation is to provide financial assistance to students of social policy and sciences, for one year's study at Harvard.[99] It also provides financial support for scientific expeditions, particularly to foreign parts of the world, such as Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and sports purposes, including those with a particularly social aspect.[100]
Frederik was originally styled "His Royal Highness Prince Frederik of Denmark". On the accession of his mother on 14 January 1972, he became known as "His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark". The title Count of Monpezat was added when his mother created it for her male-line descendants.[101]
Since his accession on 14 January 2024, he has been styled "His Majesty The King, Count of Monpezat".[102]
The King has received a number of honours. [96]
One of the more surprising honors he has received is the special honor from the Danish Red Cross. Normally, this accolade is only given to former presidents of the Danish Red Cross, but a special exception was made for the king on this occasion. [103]
^ ab"Crown Prince Frederik" (Press release). Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
^"The Week". Vol. 46, no. 20. National Review. 24 October 1994. pp. 10–24.
^Dansk pressehistorisk selskab (1998). Avis-årbogen (in Danish). C. A. Reitzels boghandel. p. 94. Kronprins Frederik indleder sin karriere som 1. ambassadesekretær ved den danske ambassade i Paris
^Davidsen, L.; Christensen, M. (2001). Bogen om Danmark (in Danish). Danmarks Nationalleksikon. p. 22. ISBN978-87-7789-096-3. Frederik André Henrik Christian, f . 26 May 1968, prins til Danmark, kronprins; ældste søn af dronning Margrethe 2 ... 1998–99 gjorde han tjeneste som sekretær ved den danske ambassade i Paris ...
^"Kronprins Frederik ind på Forsvarsakademiet". Politiken (in Danish). 15 May 2001. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024. Kronprins Frederik tager efter sommerferien plads i undervisningslokalerne på Forsvarsakademiet i København. Kronprinsen skal gennemføre en et-årig uddannelse, som vil kvalificere ham til orlogskaptajn i søværnet, ligesom han får titel af major i hæren og flyvevåbnet. Ifølge kommandørkaptajn Jens Claus Hansen begynder kronprinsen sin uddannelse i august og slutter omkring 1. juli næste år. Han skal undervises sammen med militære ledere fra de tre værn: hæren, søværnet og flyvevåbnet.
^"Kronprins Frederik afslutter sin uddannelse som konge". Politiken (in Danish). 28 June 2002. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024. Kronprins Frederik afsluttede fredag formiddag sin etårige militære lederuddannelse på Forsvarsakademiet. Han fik overrakt sine eksamenspapirer i Forsvarsakademiet på Svanemøllen Kaserne, hvor også regentparret var til stede. Kronprinsen har med sin eksamen kvalificeret sig til udnævnelse til orlogskaptajn i søværnet, samt major i hæren og flyvevåbnet.
^"H.K.H. Kronprins Frederik udnævnes". Forsvaret (in Danish). Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024. I perioden 2001 og 2002 gennemgik Kronprinsen videreuddannelsestrin II for ledere ved Forsvarsakademiet. Kronprinsen blev i 2002 major af reserven i Hæren og Flyvevåbnet samt orlogskaptajn i Søværnet. Kronprinsen er stadig aktiv i forsvaret og var i perioden 2002–2003 sagsbehandler ved forsvarskommandoen og fra 2003 lærer ved Forsvarsakademiet, Institut for Strategi.
^Einarsdóttir, Silja Björklund (31 December 2023). "Dronning Margrethe av Danmark går av" [Queen Margrethe of Denmark abdicates]. NRK. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
Christensen, Mia L. (24 August 2003). "Frederik og Mary til sejlerfest". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024. Kronprinsen og hans to gaster i båden "Nanoq" sluttede samlet som nummer fire.
^af Heidi Callesen. "tv2fyn.dk". tv2fyn.dk. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
^Fynes (29 May 2010). "All Winners of Fyn Cup Found". fyens.dk (in Danish). Jysk Fynske Medier P/S. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
^Jørgensen, Lars (30 September 2009). "Denmark's Olympic Fall". Information (in Danish). Dagbladet Information. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
^Kristensen, Kim (8 October 2016). "Kronprinsens kup". information.dk (in Danish). Information. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
^Bach, Jeppe Tholstrup; Hansen, Simone Kirstine (12 September 2021). "Kronprinsen i mål til kram: Her er hans". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
Andersen, Jens (2017). Under bjælken: Et portræt af Kronprins Frederik [Under the beam: A portrait of Crown Prince Frederik]. Copenhagen: Gyldendal. ISBN978-87-02-21436-9.
Bramsen, Bo (1992). Huset Glücksborg. Europas svigerfader og hans efterslægt [The House of Glücksburg: The Father-in-law of Europe and his descendants] (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Forlaget Forum. ISBN87-553-1843-6.
1 Also prince of Norway 2 Also prince of Greece 3 Also prince of Iceland 4 Also prince of the United Kingdom 5 Not Danish prince by birth, but created prince of Denmark Princes that lost their title are shown in italics
Kingdom of Denmark
Royal Danish Navy
14 January 2024 – present: Sovereign of the Order of the Elephant
14 January 2024 – present: Grand Master of the Order of the Dannebrog
Greenland: Recipient of the Nersornaat Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st Class[96]
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold[96]
Brazil:
Bulgaria: Member 1st Class of the Order of the Balkan Mountains[96]
Chile: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit[96]
Estonia: Member 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana[96]
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland[96]
France: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit[96]
Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[96]
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour[96]
Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon[96]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic[96]
Japan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum[96]
Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance[96]
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars[96]
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau[96]
Kingdom of Nepal: Member of the Royal Order of Ojaswi Rajanya[96]
Mexico: Sash of Special Category of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle
Netherlands:
Norway: Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav[96]
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania[96]
Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic[105]
Sweden:
Thailand: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao[96][107]
![Royal monogram as king[108]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frederik_X_Royal_Monogram.png)
