Tag Archives: King Frederik X of Denmark

King Frederik X of Denmark Asks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to Lead Denmark Government Formation Talks After Election

In Copenhagen, His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark has requested the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, to lead negotiations to form a new government, following consultations with party representatives at Amalienborg after the general election of March 24th, 2026.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister formally submitted the resignation of her government to the King, in accordance with Danish constitutional practice. She continues in office in a caretaker capacity pending the formation of a new administration.

Consultations held at Amalienborg brought together representatives of parties elected to the Folketing, who advised the King on the designation of a “royal investigator” (kongelig undersøger) to lead government formation talks.

According to the Royal Household of Denmark, in a statement issued by Hofmarskal, Christian Schønau, parties representing the largest number of seats in the Folketing, recommended that Prime Minister Frederiksen be tasked with leading negotiations. These parties, including Socialdemokratiet, Socialistisk Folkeparti, Enhedslisten, Radikale Venstre, and Alternativet, together account for 84 mandates.

Parties from the liberal and conservative blocs, including Venstre, Liberal Alliance, Dansk Folkeparti, Det Konservative Folkeparti, and Danmarksdemokraterne, representing 73 mandates, proposed Venstre leader, Troels Lund Poulsen, as an alternative candidate to lead negotiations.

The Moderates (Moderaterne), holding 14 seats, recommended their leader, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, as a potential royal investigator to explore the formation of a government across the political center.

Following the consultations, the caretaker Prime Minister Frederiksen advised the King that the parties commanding the largest parliamentary support had indicated her as the preferred leader of negotiations. Acting on this advice, the King formally requested Prime Minister Frederiksen to undertake the task of forming a new government, with a view to a coalition including Socialistisk Folkeparti and Radikale Venstre.

No single bloc commands an outright majority in the 179-seat Folketing, where 90 seats are required. The outcome leaves open the possibility of coalition negotiations across traditional political alignments or the formation of a minority government supported by external parties.

Under Denmark’s constitutional framework, the Sovereign acts based on parliamentary indications and does not exercise discretion in the political selection of a government. The process now enters a negotiation phase, the duration and outcome of which remain uncertain.

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark’s Confirmation Set for April 18, 2026, at Fredensborg Palace

In Copenhagen, the Royal Household of Denmark has announced that His Royal Highness Prince Vincent of Denmark and Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine of Denmark will be confirmed on Saturday, April 18th, 2026, at Fredensborg Slotskirke at Fredensborg Slot.

The ceremony will be presided over by Bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulsen, Bishop of Aarhus, who serves as the Royal Household’s senior ecclesiastical adviser.

Fredensborg Slotskirke has, for more than a century, served as a central setting for confirmations within the royal family of Denmark. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark was confirmed there on April 1st, 1955, while His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark was confirmed there on May 28th, 1981. 

More recently, Fredensborg Slotskirke has also been the site of the confirmations of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Christian of Denmark on May 15th, 2021, and Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Denmark on April 30th, 2022.

As part of their preparation for confirmation, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark attended Sunday service at Fredensborg Slotskirke alongside Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark. The service was conducted by parish priest Hedda Salomonsen.

King Frederik X of Denmark Presides Over Royal Life Guards Parade and Presentation of the Kongens Ur

Photo courtesy of Dennis Stenild, Kongehuset ©

In Copenhagen, His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark presided over the Royal Life Guards parade and the presentation of the Kongens Ur at the barracks of Den Kongelige Livgarde at Rosenborg Slot.

The parade forms part of the concluding ceremonies marking the completion of service for a company of the Royal Life Guards, during which the sovereign traditionally reviews the unit and presents the Kongens Ur, known in English as the King’s Watch.

The distinction is awarded to the guardsman judged by the Guard Company to have distinguished himself most notably during his period of service. In selecting the recipient, superiors and fellow guards place particular emphasis on exemplary military conduct, reliability in duty, and the individual’s contribution to the cohesion and morale of the unit.

The tradition of presenting the Kongens Ur was established in 1970 during the reign of King Frederik IX of Denmark. Since that time, the watch has been awarded annually at the conclusion of a guardsman’s service to the soldier regarded by his comrades and commanders as the most distinguished of his intake.

Den Kongelige Livgarde itself is among the oldest institutions of the Danish armed forces, having been established in 1658 by King Frederik III of Denmark. The regiment serves both as a ceremonial guard to the Danish monarch and as an operational infantry unit of the Danish Army.

This year, the Kongens Ur was awarded to Guardsman Frederik G. Nielsen.

In a statement, Den Kongelige Livgarde noted that Guardsman Nielsen received the distinction in recognition of his “great maturity,” observing that he “has established a natural authority among fellow guards on duty and those serving alongside him, and his strong relationships with colleagues make that authority credible.”

The regiment further noted that Guardsman Nielsen is attentive to his colleagues and strives to ensure a positive social environment within the guard unit.