ARHUS, Denmark (AP) – The Danish royal family took part in a special “celebration service” at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday, as new King Frederick X, accompanied by his wife Queen Mary and mother Queen Margrethe, gathered outside the 12th-century cathedral. waved to the crowd. A building that is the tallest church in the country.
AARHUS, DENMARK – JANUARY 21: Bishop Henrik Wii Poulsen (left) and Bishop Peter Henrik Skov Jacobsen participate in a celebratory service at Aarhus Cathedral on January 21, 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark. (right). (Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
The royal family drove 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) through Denmark's second-largest city, Aarhus, from their royal residence, Marcelisborg Castle, to Aarhus Cathedral.
Aarhus, Denmark – January 21: Queen Margrethe attends a gala service at Aarhus Cathedral on January 21, 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark. (Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
The service came just a week after Frederic, 55, was declared king after his 83-year-old mother, Margrethe, signed his abdication papers at a meeting with the government.
ARHUS, DENMARK – JANUARY 21: King Frederick (Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)
Aarhus resident Christina Elmström said she hoped Frederick and Queen Mary would change the Danish monarchy “in their own way.” She brought her children to experience the “big, big thing.”
“So it was an opportunity to go and meet the new king. The kids are really looking forward to it,” she said.
King Frederick (Photo credit: Bo Amstrup / Ritzau Scanpix /) AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo credit: BO AMSTRUP/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
Henrik Wypoulsen, bishop of the Aarhus diocese, told The Associated Press that he had only a few weeks to plan the service and that Frederick was involved in the planning.
“Usually this planning takes three months, but it took us two and a half weeks. So I will say we were very busy,” he said. “I selected some hymns to sing, and the king said he wanted me to sing these hymns.”
The hour-long service marked Frederick's first official visit as king outside Denmark's capital, Copenhagen.
Police estimated that about 70,000 people would line up on the main road.
Denmark's King Frederick shake. January 21, 2024, in front of Aarhus Cathedral, Aarhus, Denmark. (Photo by: MIKKEL BERG PEDERSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP) / Denmark Out (Photo by: MIKKEL BERG PEDERSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
“I think he will be the people's king,” said Charlotte Homan, a resident of Aarhus. “He's going to embrace the people… he's going to govern differently. I think he's going to be less top-down, but he's going to embrace different kinds of people. It’s also about not being on a high pedestal.”
