Frederik X facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frederik X |
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Frederik in 2021
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| King of Denmark | |||||
| Reign | 14 January 2024 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Margrethe II | ||||
| Heir apparent | Christian | ||||
| Born | 26 May 1968 Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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| House | Glücksburg | ||||
| Father | Henri de Laborde de Monpezat | ||||
| Mother | Margrethe II | ||||
| Religion | Church of Denmark | ||||
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| Other names | Pingo | ||||
| Alma mater | Aarhus University | ||||
| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance | Danish Realm | ||||
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Frederik X (born 26 May 1968) is the current King of Denmark. He became king on 14 January 2024, after his mother, Margrethe II, decided to step down from the throne.
Frederik is the older son of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. He was born when his grandfather, King Frederik IX, was king. Frederik became the Crown Prince of Denmark in 1972 when his mother became queen. He studied at different schools and later earned a master's degree in political science from Aarhus University. After university, he worked in diplomacy and trained in all three parts of the Danish Armed Forces.
Frederik met Mary Donaldson from Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. They got married on 14 May 2004 in Copenhagen Cathedral. They have four children: Christian, Isabella, Vincent, and Josephine.
Contents
Becoming King: Frederik's Journey to the Throne
Early Life and Education
Frederik was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 26 May 1968. His mother was then Princess Margrethe, who later became Queen Margrethe II. His father was Prince Henrik. At the time of his birth, his grandfather, King Frederik IX, was the King of Denmark.
He was named Frederik after his grandfather, following a Danish royal tradition. This tradition means the future king is usually named either Frederik or Christian. He became the Crown Prince when his mother became queen on 14 January 1972. Frederik has one younger brother, Prince Joachim of Denmark.
Frederik went to primary school at Krebs School. He also studied at Amalienborg Palace for a few years. From 1982 to 1983, he attended a boarding school in France called École des Roches. In 1986, he finished high school at Øregård Gymnasium. Besides Danish, he speaks French, English, and German very well.
In 1989, Frederik started studying political science at Aarhus University. He spent a year at Harvard University in the United States as part of his studies. He was the first Danish royal to complete a university education.
Early Career and Military Training
In 1994, Frederik worked for three months at the Danish United Nations office in New York. In 1995, he earned his master's degree in political science from Aarhus University. He was the first royal to get a master's degree. His final project was about the foreign policy of the Baltic States. From 1998 to 1999, he worked at the Danish Embassy in Paris.
Frederik has also had a lot of military training. He trained as a frogman in the special forces unit called Frømandskorpset. This is where he got the nickname "Pingo" because his wetsuit filled with water, making him waddle like a penguin! He continued to be active in the military, working as a staff officer and lecturer.
Marriage and Family Life
On 8 October 2003, Queen Margrethe agreed to Crown Prince Frederik's marriage to Mary Elizabeth Donaldson. Mary was a marketing consultant from Australia. They had met at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Their wedding took place on 14 May 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral.
Frederik and Mary have four children:
- Christian, born 15 October 2005
- Isabella, born 21 April 2007
- Vincent, born 8 January 2011 (he is a twin)
- Josephine, born 8 January 2011 (she is a twin)
King Frederik X: His Reign and Royal Duties
Becoming King
Queen Margrethe II announced that she would step down as queen on 31 December 2023. Frederik became King of Denmark on 14 January 2024. This happened after his mother officially signed a document to give up her throne.
After becoming king, he was announced to the public from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. This is a tradition for Danish monarchs since 1849. His royal motto is "United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark." This is the first motto since Frederik VII that does not mention God.
Soon after, the royal family attended a special church service at Aarhus Cathedral. On 31 January 2024, Frederik made his first trip as monarch to Poland. He visited the Polish president.
In May 2024, the King and Queen made their first official state visits to Sweden and Norway. In June, they visited Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. A planned trip to the Faroe Islands was moved to 2025.
In November 2024, the King decided to stop the system of "royal warrants." This system allowed companies to claim special recognition from the royal house. The King felt this system was not modern anymore. All such titles will be phased out by the end of 2029.
In January 2025, when there were talks about the United States buying Greenland, the King gave a speech. He spoke about the importance of unity within the Kingdom of Denmark. He also updated the royal coat of arms. The changes made the symbols of Greenland and the Faroe Islands larger and more noticeable. This shows the importance of these areas in the royal coat of arms.
Official Visits as King
As King, Frederik X makes official visits to other countries. Here are some of his early visits:
| Month and year | Country Visited | Hosts |
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| May 2024 | Sweden | King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia |
| May 2024 | Norway | King Harald V and Queen Sonja |
| October 2024 | Iceland (hosted in Denmark) | President Halla Tómasdóttir |
| December 2024 | Egypt (hosted in Denmark) | President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi |
Frederik's Interests and Activities
Caring for the Planet
Frederik is very interested in science, climate change, and how we can live in a way that protects the Earth for the future (this is called sustainability). He has been interviewed by major news outlets about his work for sustainability. He has also joined expeditions and events focused on climate.
He has represented Denmark to promote Danish energy that is good for the environment. He even helped write a book called Kongelig Polartokt (Polar Cruise Royal) about climate challenges. He also wrote the introduction for a high school textbook about nature and climate change in Northeast Greenland. He supports scientific research through his foundation, Kronprins Frederiks Fond.
Sports and Healthy Living
The King loves sports and encourages Danes to be active. He supports many sports groups and used to be a member of the International Olympic Committee. He also promotes a healthy lifestyle for everyone.
Frederik is a very active person. He has run marathons in Copenhagen, New York, and Paris. In 2013, he completed the KMD Ironman Copenhagen, becoming the first royal person to finish an Ironman race.
He is also a skilled sailor. He has competed in sailing races, often finishing in the top spots. In 2016, he had to cancel an event because he fractured his spine while jumping on a trampoline with his oldest son.
Frederik also enjoys cross-country skiing. He has skied the 90 km (56 mi) Swedish Vasaloppet several times. In 2016, he completed the 54 km (34 mi) Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet with Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. He also finished the 160 km (99 mi) Arctic Circle Race in Sisimiut, Greenland.
International Olympic Committee
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In 2009, Crown Prince Frederik was chosen to be a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He wanted to join to encourage young people to live active lives. He was elected for an eight-year term. He said he would leave the IOC when he became King of Denmark.
In 2012, Frederik carried the Olympic flame through Notting Hill in London.
In 2021, Frederik announced that he would step down as an active member of the IOC. He wanted to focus more on his daily royal duties.
Royal Run
To celebrate his 50th birthday in 2018, Frederik started a public running event called Royal Run. More than 70,000 people participated in five cities across Denmark, including Frederik and his family. The event was very popular.
The Royal Run has become an annual event, happening every year since, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 event took place in several Danish cities.
Expeditions
The Crown Prince has also taken part in exciting expeditions. In 1986, he went on an expedition to Mongolia. In 2000, he joined "Expedition Sirius 2000." This was a four-month, 2,795 km (1,737 mi) dog-sledge journey in northern Greenland. Frederik was the film photographer for this polar expedition.
Crown Prince Frederik's Foundation
The Kronprins Frederiks Fond (Crown Prince Frederik's Foundation) helps students. It gives money to students studying social policy and sciences to study at Harvard for a year. It also supports scientific expeditions, especially to places like Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The foundation also helps with sports projects, especially those that benefit society.
Titles and Honours
Titles and Styles
When Frederik was born, he was called "His Royal Highness Prince Frederik of Denmark." When his mother became Queen in 1972, he became "His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark." He also received the title Count of Monpezat.
Since he became King on 14 January 2024, he is now called "His Majesty The King, Count of Monpezat."
Special Honours
The King has received many honours. One special honour he received was from the Danish Red Cross. This award is usually only given to former presidents of the Danish Red Cross, but a special exception was made for the King.
National Honours (Denmark)
- Sovereign of the Order of the Elephant (since 2024)
- Grand Master of the Order of the Dannebrog (since 2024)
- Recipient of the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog
- Recipient of many jubilee and commemorative medals related to his mother, Queen Margrethe II, and his father, Prince Henrik.
- Recipient of military medals, including the Naval Long Service Medal.
- Recipient of the Nersornaat Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st Class from Greenland.
Foreign Honours (Other Countries)
Frederik has also received high honours from many other countries, showing his role in international relations. These include:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold I (Belgium)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finland)
- Grand Cross, 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (Iceland)
- Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan)
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (Norway)
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (Sweden)
- Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (Thailand)
Royal Symbols
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Royal standard
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Royal monogram as king
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Personal monogram as crown prince
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Dual monogram of Frederik and Mary
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See also
In Spanish: Federico X de Dinamarca para niños
