King Frederik X ascends to the throne

(Patria) - Danish King Frederik X ascended to the throne today, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years of reign. A large number of people gathered in the Danish capital to witness this historic moment.

Margrethe (83) surprised the nation on New Year's Eve when she announced her intention to become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne, Reuters reports.

Queen Margrethe II signed her abdication on Sunday, January 14, at a meeting with the Danish cabinet after more than five decades of service. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation.

The meeting was attended by government representatives, Margrethe, Frederik, his Australian-born wife Mary, who is now queen, and their eldest son Christian, who is the new crown prince.

The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Eric III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery.