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The Danish monarchy is the oldest in the world. In former times the king was the absolute ruler - that meant that he decided pretty much everything. It's not like that today, but the royal house is still an important national symbol of unity.
Our monarchy is headed by a queen.
Margrethe Alexandrine Ŝorhildur Ingrid, became Queen of Denmark in 1972. Queen Margrethe II was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace as the daughter of King Frederik IX (d. 1972) and Queen Ingrid. The Queen's motto is "God's help, the love of The People, Denmark's strength".
On 10 June 1967, she married Henri Marie Jean André Count of Laborde de Monpezat, who in connection with the marriage became His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik has two sons:
HRH Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian, born on 26 May 1968 and HRH Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, born on 7 June 1969.
The Danish royal house - like so many other European royal houses - has a bit of an international history. For many years it was the tradition that the royal houses of Europe'exchanged' princes and princesses, because if you were royal, it was considered appropriate to marry another royal person.
The mother of our present queen Margrethe II, Ingrid, was a Swedish princess. Queen Margrethe's husband, Prince Henrik, is a French count, and the queen's two younger sisters got married to a German count and a Greek king. Today they don't have to marry other royal persons, but still they often come from abroad. Denmark's youngest prince, Prince Joachim, was married to a civil girl from Hong Kong, Alexandra Manley. They are now divorced.
On 24 May 2008 Prince Joachim married Miss Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier, from France, who in connection with the marriage became HRH Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess de Monpezat.
From the marriage with Countess Alexandra Prince Joachim has two sons: Prince Nikolai, born on 28 August 1999 Prince Felix, born on 22 July 2002.
Queen Margrethe's eldest son is called Frederik, and because he's the crown prince, he'll inherit the throne.
His wife´s name is Mary and she will be the next Danish queen.
Mary wasn´t born into a royal family. Her mom and dad, John and Henrietta Donaldson, lived in Tasmania south of Australia.
You can read more about Frederik and Mary in their factsheet.
 Crown
Prince Frederik has four first names: Frederik André Henrik Christian.
But no last name. When he becomes king one day, he'll be King Frederik
10th.
Crown Prince Frederik was born 26 May 1968. He went to school and high school in Copenhagen. After his graduation he's been busy: first he joined the army and ended up as a highly decorated elite soldier of the navy's diving corps. Then he went to university in Århus and got a degree in politics and public administration. He continued his studies at universities abroad, and worked at Danish embassies.
He also has a degree from the air force.
He has participated in great expeditions, for example he has travelled by dog-sled in northern Greenland. And he's a marathon runner.
There are several royal Danish castles.
| Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen, where the royal family lives most of the year. |
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Fredensborg
Castle in northern Zealand, where the royal family spends the summer. |
| Marselisborg
Castle in Århus, where the royal family lives when they're in Jutland. |
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Rosenborg
Castle in Copenhagen. Now used as museum. |
| Frederiksborg
Castle in northern Zealand. Also used as museum. |
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Gråsten
Castle in south Jutland, which was the queen mother, Ingrid's private
summer residence. |
You can read more about the Royal family on their home page
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