Monarchy of Denmark

Monarch of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands
Federal
Coat_of_arms_of_Denmark#Royal_coat_of_arms
Incumbent
Margrethe II
Details
Style	His/Her Royal Highness Majesty
Heir apparent	Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
First monarch	Ongendus (according to legend) Gorm the Old (attested)
Formation	c. 935

The Monarchy of Denmark (also referred to as the Danish Monarchy) is the constitutional monarchy of Denmark and its overseas territories.

The present monarch, Queen Margarethe II, has reigned since 14 February 1972. She along with her husband and other members of the Danish Royal Family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen is limited to non-partisan, ceremonial functions. The ultimate executive authority over the government of Denmark is still by and through the monarch's royal reserve powers; in practice these powers are only used according to laws enacted in Parliament or within the constraints of convention.

The Kingdom of Denmark although commonly known simply as 'Denmark' actually consists of three independent countries: Denmark in northern Europe, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and Greenland in North America. The relationship of the member states is governed by the Rigsfællesskabet. Of the three, only Denmark has direct relations with other states and is a member of the European Union.

Constitutional role

Main article: Politics of Denmark

According to the Danish Constitution the Danish Monarch, as head of state, is the source of executive and, cojointly with the Folketing or Parliament, legislative power. The Monarch retains the ability to deny giving a bill royal assent as well as choosing and dismissing the Prime Minister, although in modern times this becomes increasingly more unlikely, as it would cause a constitutional crisis. As Head of State, the monarch participates in the formation of a new government. Bills are required to be countersigned by one or more cabinet ministers to become law (Constitution, III,14) King Christian X was the last Monarch to exercise the power of dismissal on his own will, which he did so on March 28, 1920 sparking the 1920 Easter Crisis. All royal powers called Royal Prerogative, such as patronage to appoint ministers and the ability to declare war and make peace, are exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, with the formal consent of the Queen. After consultation with representatives of the political parties, the Party Leader who has the support of the largest number of seats in the Danish Parliament is invited to form a government. Once it has been formed, the monarch will formally appoint it.

Today the Sovereign has an essentially ceremonial role restricted in exercise of power by convention and public opinion. As a figurehead the monarch opens exhibitions, attends anniversaries, inaugurates bridges etc. However the monarch does continue to exercise three essential rights: the right to be consulted, the right to advise and the right to warn. As a consequence of these ideals, the Prime Minister and Cabinet attends the regular meeting of the Council of State. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs report regularly to The Queen to advise her of the latest political developments. The Queen hosts official visits by foreign Heads of State and pays State Visits abroad.

History

The Danish monarchy is over 1000 years old, making it one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The first monarch the monarchy can be traced back to is Gorm the Old (d. 958). Originally the monarchy was elective, but in practice the eldest son of the reigning monarch was elected. Later a Coronation Charter was signed by the king to restrict the powers of the Danish monarch. Absolutism was reintroduced in 1660–1661, when the elective monarchy was transformed into a hereditary monarchy. Male primogeniture succession was laid down in law in the Royal Decree of 1665. On 5 June 1849 the constitution was altered to create a constitutional monarchy for Denmark. The Act of Succession of 27 March 1953 introduced the possibility of female succession, which enabled the current reigning Queen, Magerethe II, to accede the throne.

The last monarch of the ancient Danish ruling dynasty Christopher III of Denmark died in 1448. Duke Christian of Oldenborg was chosen as his successor and became the next monarch of Denmark, ruling under the name Christian I. The last Danish monarch of that royal dynasty, Frederik VII, died without issue. In accordance with the act of succession, Prince Christian of Glücksborg acceded the throne, being the first Danish monarch of the house of Glücksborg. Christian eventually became known as 'the Father-in-law of Europe' due to his family ties with most other ruling dynasties of Europe: His daughter Princess Alexandra married Edward VII of England, another daughter Princess Dagmar married Czar Alexander III of Russia and Princess Thyra married Duke Ernst August of Cumberland. His son Vilhelm went on to become King of the Hellenes (under the name George I). Further, his grandson Carl became King of Norway (as Haakon VII). To this day the Danish Royal Family are related to most other reigning European dynasties.

Danish Royal Family

Main article: Danish Royal Family

In the Kingdom of Denmark all members of the ruling dynasty that hold the title Prince or Princess of Denmark are said to be members of the Danish Royal Family. As with other European monarchies, distinguishing who is a member of the national Royal Family is difficult due to lack of strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member. The Queen and her siblings belong to the House of Glücksburg, a branch of the House of Oldenburg. The Queen's children and male-line descendants belong agnatically to the family de Laborde de Monpezat.

Main members

Queen Margarethe II on a royal visit to the Faroe Islands

The Danish Royal Family includes:

• The Queen
• The Prince Consort (The Queen's husband)
• The Crown Prince and Crown Princess (The Queen's son and daughter-in-law)
  • Prince Christian (The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's son)
  • Princess Isabella (The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's daughter)
• Prince Joachim and Princess Marie (The Queen's son and daughter-in-law)
  • Prince Nikolai (Prince Joachim's elder son)
  • Prince Felix (Prince Joachim's middle son)
  • Prince Henrik of Denmark (Prince Joachim's and Princess Marie's son together)
• Princess Benedikte (The Queen's sister)
• The Queen of the Hellenes (The Queen's sister)
• Princess Elisabeth (The Queen's first cousin)

Extended members

The extended Danish Royal Family which includes people who do not hold the title of Prince or Princess of Denmark but have close connections to the Queen could be said to include:

• The Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Princess Benedikte's husband)
  • The Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Princess Benedikte's son)
  • Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Princess Benedikte's elder daughter)
  • Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (Princess Alexandra's husband)
    • Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (Princess Alexandra's son)
    • Countess Ingrid von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (Princess Alexandra's daughter )
  • Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Princess Benedikte's younger daughter)

Succession

Main article: Line of succession to the Danish throne

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark

Denmark uses a system of cognatic (male-preference) primogeniture.

The Danish Act of Succession adopted on 27 March 1953 restricts the throne to those descended from King Christian X and his wife, Queen Alexandrine, through approved marriages.

Dynasts lose their right to the throne if they marry without the permission of the monarch given in the Council of State. Individuals born to unmarried dynasts or to former dynasts that married without royal permission, and their descendants, are excluded from the throne. Further, when approving a marriage, the monarch can impose conditions that must be met in order for any resulting offspring to have succession rights. Part II, Section 9 of the Danish Constitution of 5 June 1953 provides that the parliament will elect a king and determine a new line of succession should a situation arise where there are no eligible descendants of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine.

The monarch of Denmark must be a member of the Danish National Church, or Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark (Danish Constitution, II,6). The National Church is by law the State Church, though the monarch is not its head (unlike in England, where the Supreme Governor of the Church of England is the Monarch of the United Kingdom(Const, I,4)).

Style

Royal Standard of Denmark.

The monarchs of Denmark have a long history of royal and noble titles. Historically Danish monarchs also used the titles 'King of the Wends' and 'King of the Goths'. Upon her ascension to the throne in 1972 Queen Margarethe II abandoned all titles except the title 'Queen of Denmark'. The monarch of Denmark and his or her spouse are addressed as 'Your Majesty', whereas Princes and Princesses are referred to as His or Her Royal Highness (Hans or Hendes Kongelige Højhed), or His or Her Highness (Hans or Hendes Højhed).

• Eric of Pomerania: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Pomerania.

• Christopher of Bavaria: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria.

• The full title of the Danish sovereigns from Christian I to Christian II was: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.

• The full title of the Danish sovereigns from Frederick I to Christian VII was: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.

• Oldenburg was elevated to a duchy during the reign of Christian VII, and the style was changed accordingly: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen and Oldenburg. This style was used until his son, Frederick VI, lost control of Norway by the 1814 Treaty of Kiel.

• Frederick VI gained control over Rügen 1814–1815 leading to the style: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, the Wends and the Goths, Prince of Rügen, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen and Oldenburg.

• In 1815, Frederick VI reliquised Rügen in favour of the Prussian king, and instead gained the Duchy of Lauenburg leading to the style: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg. This style was used until 1918 when Iceland was elevated to an independent state in union with Denmark.

• The full title of Christian X from 1918 to 1944: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, Iceland, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg.

• The full title of Christian X following the 1944 dissolution of the Dano-Icelandic union: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg. The same style was used by his son, Frederick IX, until his death in 1972

• When ascending the throne in 1972, Queen Margrethe II abandoned all the monarch's traditional titles except the title to Denmark, hence her style Queen of Denmark.

Arms

Main article: Coat of arms of Denmark

The Royal coat of arms of Denmark

The National Coat of Arms of Denmark consists of three crowned blue lions accompanied by nine red hearts, all in a golden shield. The oldest known depiction of the insignia dates from a seal used by King Canute VI c. 1194. The oldest documentation for the colours dates from c. 1270. Historically, the lions faced the viewer and the number of hearts was not regulated and could be much higher. Historians believe that the hearts originally were søblade (literally: sea-leaves) but that this meaning was lost early due to worn and crudely made signets used during the Middle Ages. A royal decree of 1972 specifies these figures as søblade but Danes normally refer to them as hearts. The current version was adopted in 1819 during the reign of King Frederick VI who fixed the number of hearts to nine and decreed that the heraldic beasts were lions, consequently facing forward. A rare version exists from the reign of king Eric of Pomerania in which the three lions jointly hold the Danish banner, in a similar fashion as in the coat of arms of the former South Jutland County.

Greenland and the Faroe Islands

These two dependencies enjoy home rule and are governed by the Crown in accordance with the Danish Constitution.

External links

The Official Website of the Danish Monarchy