Monarchy of Denmark

King of Denmark
Konge af Danmark
Royal coat of arms of Denmark
Incumbent
Frederik X since 14 January 2024
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir apparent	Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark
First monarch	Ongendus (first king known by name)
Formation	710; 1314 years ago (710)
Residences	See list
Website	www.kongehuset.dk/en

Politics of Denmark
Constitution Fundamental laws Act of Succession Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press
The Crown Monarch Frederik X Crown Prince Christian Royal family Privy Council Purveyors to the Royal Court
The unity of the Realm Denmark proper Faroe Islands Greenland
Executive Government Frederiksen II Prime Minister (list) Mette Frederiksen Government Offices Ministries High Commissioners Faroe Islands Greenland
Legislature Folketinget (parliament) Speaker: Søren Gade Members
Judiciary Supreme Court of Denmark Courts of Denmark Court of the Faroe Islands Courts of Greenland Judicial review
Elections Political parties: Denmark Faroe Islands Greenland Recent elections Parliamentary: 2022 2019 2015 European: 2019 2014 2009 Referendums
Administrative divisions Denmark proper Regions Municipalities Constituencies Faroe Islands Subdivisions of the Faroe Islands Greenland Subdivisions of Greenland
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Lars Løkke Rasmussen Diplomatic missions of / to the Kingdom Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Arctic policy of the Kingdom Politics of the European Union Arctic policy of the EU Denmark and the EU Faroe Islands and the EU Greenland and the EU
Related topics Arctic Command Defence Command Politics of the Faroe Islands Politics of Greenland Unitarism Home rule Self rule
Denmark portal Other countries
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The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Kingdom of Denmark was already consolidated in the 8th century, whose rulers are consistently referred to in Frankish sources (and in some late Frisian sources) as "kings" (reges). Under the rule of King Gudfred in 804 the Kingdom may have included all the major provinces of medieval Denmark.^[1]

The current unified Kingdom of Denmark was founded or re-united by the Viking kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century. Originally an elective monarchy, it became hereditary only in the 17th century during the reign of Frederick III. A decisive transition to a constitutional monarchy occurred in 1849 with the writing of the first democratic constitution, replacing the vast majority of the old absolutist constitution. The current Royal House is a branch of the ducal House of Glücksburg, originally from Schleswig-Holstein in modern-day Germany, the House of Glücksburg itself being a collateral branch of the House of Oldenburg. The House of Glücksburg also produced the monarchs of Norway, of the United Kingdom and the former monarch of Greece in the direct male line.

The Danish monarchy is constitutional and as such, the role of the monarch is defined and limited by the Constitution of Denmark. According to the constitution, 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 monarch is, in practice, limited to non-partisan functions such as bestowing honours and formally appointing the prime minister. The monarch and his or her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic and representational duties.

King Frederik X ascended the throne following the abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II, on 14 January 2024. Danish regnal names have traditionally (since 1513) alternated between "Frederik" (previously anglicised to Frederick) and "Christian". Accordingly, Frederik's heir apparent is Crown Prince Christian.