デンマークでフレデリック国王即位　マルグレーテ２世が生前退位

【コペンハーゲンＡＦＰ＝時事】デンマーク国民の間で高い人気を誇る女王マルグレーテ２世（８３）が即位５２年の節目となる１４日に退位し、息子のフレデリック皇太子（５５）が新国王フレデリック１０世として即位した。（写真は、デンマーク・コペンハーゲンにあるクリスチャンスボー城のバルコニーで手を振るフレデリック新国王夫妻）
　マルグレーテ２世は、議会と政府庁舎を兼ねるクリスチャンスボー城で政府や王族関係者列席の下、退位宣言に署名。涙を見せながら「国王に祝福を」と述べた。
　フレデリック１０世は宮殿のバルコニーに姿を見せ、約１０万人の観衆に笑顔で手を振った。マルグレーテ２世同様、人気は非常に高く、支持率は８０％を超えている。
　「母は祖国と一体化することに成功した」「私も未来に向け結束をもたらす国王となりたい。それが私の責務であり、敬意と誇り、たくさんの幸せを感じている」と語り、喝采を浴びた。
　デンマークの伝統にのっとり、戴冠式は行われず、外国の要人や王族は招かれなかった。
　英国のチャールズ国王は、デンマーク王室のインスタグラムのアカウントに、フレデリック１０世夫妻に祝福のメッセージを投稿。
　スウェーデンのカール１６世グスタフ国王はマルグレーテ２世を「いとこのデイジー」と呼び、長年の「協力」に謝意を表した。ジョー・バイデン米大統領も、「信念を持ち、無私無欲で国民に奉仕した比類なき模範」と、前女王をたたえた。
　マルグレーテ２世は、生前退位はしないとたびたび表明してきたが、昨年大みそかにテレビ中継された恒例のスピーチで、前年に背中の手術を受けたことがきっかけで退位する考えに至ったと突然発表。家族に知らせたのも、その３日前だったとされる。
　デンマークの君主による生前退位は今回が２回目。約９００年前の１１４６年にエーリク３世が退位して以来となる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/01/15-17:28）

Denmark's King Frederik X acceded to the throne on Sunday, ushering in a new era after his mother Queen Margrethe abdicated, with more than 100,000 Danes turning out for the unprecedented event.
After a final horse-drawn carriage procession through the streets of Copenhagen, the hugely popular 83-year-old queen signed a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Palace, ending her 52-year reign and automatically making her son monarch.
She then left the Council of State, also attended by the government, the new king, his wife and their 18-year-old eldest son, the new Crown Prince Christian.
Margrethe left the room with tears in her eyes, saying: God bless the king.
In front of a sea of Danes braving the winter chill and waving red-and-white flags, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen then proclaimed 55-year-old Frederik the new king on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, the seat of parliament and government.
Frederik, clad in his gala admiral's uniform with gold epaulettes and blue sash, blinked back tears and smiled as he waved to the crowd, estimated at more than 100,000 people by media outlets.
Like his mother, Frederik is hugely popular, enjoying the support of more than 80 percent of Danes.
My mother succeeded like few others in becoming one with her country, he told the crowd.
My hope is to become a unifying king for the future... It's a responsibility I assume with respect, pride and a lot of happiness, he said, repeatedly placing his hand on his heart as the crowd cheered.
I think he's going to be a great king. I'm looking forward to seeing how he's going to do it and see him show more of himself, Rene Jensen, a Copenhagen resident fitted out for the day in a red velvet robe and crown, told AFP.
Frederik was then joined on the balcony by his Australian-born wife Mary, wearing a white dress with her dark hair swept back in a bun, and their four teenaged children.
Mary is the first commoner to become queen in Denmark.
The crowd erupted in loud cheers as the new king and queen kissed on the balcony.
The royal standard was then raised at the couple's residence at the Amalienborg Palace.
- 'Soul of the nation' -
In line with Danish tradition, no foreign dignitaries or royals were invited on Sunday, and there was no coronation or throne.
Britain's King Charles congratulated Frederik and Mary on their accession in a message posted on the Danish court's Instagram account, while Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf thanked Queen Margrethe, whom he referred to as cousin Daisy, for their good cooperation over the years.
US President Joe Biden paid tribute to his Queen Margrethe's incredible example of selfless, principled service.
This is only the second time a Danish sovereign has stepped down -- the last was Erik III, almost nine centuries ago in 1146.
Portraits and banners around the capital thanked the queen for her years of service, with cheeky signs in the metro declaring Thanks for the Ride, Margrethe.
Others read Long Live the King.
Margrethe chose to abdicate exactly 52 years to the day after she took over from her father, Frederik IX.
The queen stunned Danes when she announced her abdication in her annual televised New Year's Eve address, after having repeatedly insisted she would follow tradition and reign until her death.
Even her own family was only informed three days prior.
She attributed her decision to health issues after undergoing major back surgery last year.
Aske Julius, a 27-year-old Copenhagen resident, called Margrethe the embodiment of Denmark... the soul of the nation.
More than half of the Danish population has never known anything else but the queen, he said.
Margrethe will retain her title of queen.
- 'Different' monarch -
Experts say her decision to pass the baton now will give Frederik time to flourish in his role as monarch.
He is expected to bring his own, more informal style to the monarchy, which dates back to the 10th-century Viking era.
He feels like one of us ... He tries to be a lot like normal people, onlooker Berit Nissen told AFP on Sunday.
They raised their children like normal families do, she said, referring to the couple's decision to send their kids mainly to state schools.
While his mother is known for her love of the arts and is an accomplished writer and artist, Frederik is an avid sportsman who champions environmental causes.
In Denmark, the monarch's role is largely ceremonial, but the sovereign does sign legislation, formally presides over the forming of a government and meets with the cabinet regularly.