Denmark's new royal couple: A dream team?

Frederik and Mary - Denmark's new royal couple: A dream team?

King Frederik X and Queen Mary - soon a royal couple will once again sit on the throne in Denmark. With the surprising abdication announced in her New Year's address, Queen Margrethe II is clearing the way for her 55-year-old son and his 51-year-old wife Mary. The monarch plans to abdicate on January 14 - the 52nd anniversary of her accession to the throne.

The 83-year-old does not have to worry about the future of the monarchy: according to a survey by Danish broadcaster DR, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary are just as popular as Margrethe. According to the survey, more than 80 percent of Danes have a positive image of the soon-to-be royal couple.

The future royal consort, who was born Mary Donaldson in Tasmania, will be the first Australian to receive such a royal title, wrote the Australian broadcaster ABC. The head of government of Australia's smallest state, Jeremy Rockliff, has already congratulated her on the title and praised her as a "wonderful ambassador for Tasmania".

Will there be a coronation ceremony?

There will not be a pompous coronation ceremony like last year's in the UK for King Charles III, said monarchy expert Cecilie Nielsen to DR. "We don't hold coronations in Denmark. We have a proclamation, and it will be on January 14 that Crown Prince Frederik will be proclaimed king by the Prime Minister," she said.

That should suit the nature of the heir to the throne: Not standing out in the crowd, meeting people at eye level - that suits Frederik. Despite his many public appearances, he has never been a great orator. He had to put up with a lot of criticism from the Danish media in his younger years.

What role will the royal couple 's children play?

Of the four children of the soon-to-be royal couple, Christian (18), Isabella (16) and the twins Vincent and Josephine (12), the eldest in particular will experience a significant change. Prince Christian will become Crown Prince when his father ascends the throne.

He will also take on many official duties and become a permanent member of the Council of State, an advisory body to the Danish monarch, said monarchy expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen to the Danish news agency Ritzau. This means that he will become his father's deputy and take on the role of head of state when his father is abroad. Previously, it was only intended that Christian would assume his grandmother's duties in exceptional cases.

Are the scandals a thing of the past?

As a young man, Frederik had a reputation as a party prince. Scandals, flirtations and a penchant for fast cars were a recurring theme in the gossip columns in past decades. But things have quietened down since the mid-90s.

When he was spotted on a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid a few weeks ago, the tabloids were full of speculation - but Frederik and Mary stoically shrugged it off. The two have long been regarded as a dream team that doesn't get rattled easily.

One of the ways Frederik gained recognition was with his sporting zeal. He has run various marathons, completed an Ironman and has taken part in the Swedish cross-country skiing classic Wasalauf over 90 kilometers several times. In his mid-20s, he underwent tough military training to become a combat swimmer in the navy. The crown prince also earned respect when he drove almost 2,800 kilometers through Greenland on an expedition on a dog sled in the freezing cold.

What are the potential pitfalls?

His relationship with his younger brother Joachim (54) is no longer entirely untroubled. The rift between the brothers came about when Queen Margrethe stripped Joachim's children - her grandchildren - of their prince and princess titles. Prince Joachim and his ex-wife, Countess Alexandra (59), then publicly displayed their hurt feelings, forcing the Queen and Crown Prince to react.

"It was emotionally very difficult for Frederik, especially as he has a close relationship with his brother. The two normally have good chemistry," summed up royal family expert Marianne Singer from the magazine "Billed-Bladet" at the time. The affair did not develop into a full-blown scandal. That would also be atypical for the otherwise rather inconspicuous and down-to-earth Danish royal family.