Denmark’s royal household has been within the vortex of dramatic occasions in the previous few weeks, propelling them to the middle of public consideration. Queen Margrethe II, who held a 52-year reign, introduced she would abdicate her throne in a New Yr’s speech and cross the crown to her eldest son.
The 55-year-old King Frederik X formally ascended the throne on Sunday amid nice fanfare, as folks gathered to observe the historic occasion in Copenhagen and elsewhere. If these occasions weren’t monumental sufficient, simply three days after changing into king, Frederik printed a shock guide on Wednesday.
Within the 110-page manifesto, titled Kongeord which suggests “The King’s Word,” the monarch shares his ideas on his new function, on Denmark’s place on this planet in addition to his marriage to Australian-born spouse Queen Mary.
The guide, co-authored by Jens Andersen, who wrote Frederik’s 2017 biography, additionally shares the king’s imaginative and prescient for his new role.
On condition that information in regards to the monarchy is on the high of thoughts for Danes, the guide has been promoting at blistering pace within the nation.
In only a day, Kongeord has outsold 2023’s bestselling guide, a number one Danish bookstore Saxo advised Fortune. The shop stated there have been factors within the day when it bought 25 copies of the guide a minute.
“[Wednesday] was certainly one for the books and a record-breaking day at Saxo.com. Our sales numbers turned four digits during its first hours on sale,” a spokesperson for the bookstore advised Fortune.
“We have never sold as many copies of a book on the day of its publication as we did yesterday. I am almost certain that this will be the bestselling book in 2024.”
Excerpts from the guide
Even when it’s simply been a day, media retailers have additionally divulged a number of book excerpts wherein Frederik talks about desirous to be a daily individual.
“I remember my 18th birthday as something similar to the end of the world. It was the feeling that now everything that was fun and exciting was coming to an end. Fortunately, it didn’t,” the king shared in his new guide.
He additionally praised his spouse for grounding him: “I have learned a lot from having a wife who, from time to time, reminds me that of course I am not always right, and that my words are not automatically believed, just because I am a man in the house.”
A number of the different matters Frederik touches on embody how his father, the late Prince Henrik of Denmark, was “very patriarchal” and tried to “pass that pattern on to his two sons.”
The Danish royal household’s press workplace didn’t instantly return Fortune’s request for remark.
A brand new age for the Danish monarchy
Denmark has one of many world’s oldest monarchies, which Queen Margrethe II has led since 1972. Akin to the British monarchy, the royal household’s duties are mostly ceremonial in terms of worldwide affairs or involvement in native insurance policies.
Queen Margrethe II was the primary queen in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne, as she cited well being causes and illnesses for making the sudden transfer.
As queen, she was seen as progressive and credited for making the royal household well-liked among the many lots. In 2022, the Queen stated she’d strip 4 of her grandchildren of their royal titles to allow them to “shape their own lives.”
As Frederik takes on the mantle now, he says he needs to be a power of unity as a king.
“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It is a task I have approached all my life,” Frederik stated as he was proclaimed the king. His motto as a monarch is “united, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark.”
In a survey commissioned by Denmark’s public broadcaster DR final week, 79% of the 1,037 folks polled stated that they believed Frederik was ready to take the reins, in keeping with the Associated Press.
The identical ballot additionally confirmed that roughly 83% stated they thought his spouse Mary was able to turn into queen.
