Queen Margrethe of Denmark formally abdicated today, handing over the throne to her son, who becomes King Frederick X. Over one hundred thousand people attended the event, as television images showed. The 83-year-old monarch signed the declaration of abdication at the Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, with her 55-year-old son sitting to her right. A small puppet in the shape of a kangaroo appeared among the crowd that cheered her, because the new Queen Mary was born in Hobart, Tasmania (Australia).
Mattarella’s best wishes to Federico
«The proclamation as King of Denmark offers me the welcome opportunity to extend to Your Majesty, on behalf of the Italian Republic and myself, my most fervent wishes for a long and prosperous Reign at the service of the Danish people, to whom for over fifty years the Queen Emerita Margrethe dedicated her best energies with exemplary dedication.” This is the message that the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent to His Majesty Frederick X, King of Denmark. «The bonds of friendship that unite Copenhagen and Rome – continues Mattarella – have ancient roots, but are projected into the future. They develop constantly within the framework of common European institutions and of the convinced and coherent collaboration in the defense of the values of freedom, democracy and rule of law both within the Atlantic Alliance and within the context of the United Nations”. «In this spirit, and in the happy memory of our meeting at the Quirinale – concludes Mattarella – I renew my most sincere congratulations to Your Majesty, while I extend warmest wishes for well-being to Queen Mary, the Royal Family and the friendly Danish people».