FAQ

Here are some questions and answers about the Danish monarchy. If you have any more questions, just add them on the The Scandinavian Royals Message Board.
If you find any examples of bad grammar or spelling, and I am sure you will, do not hesitate to tell me. I will appreciate it.
This page was last updated on 3 of May 2003.

1. What is the name of the Danish Royal Family and how did this family gain the throne?
2. Can a woman become Queen Regnant in Denmark?
3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Denmark?
4. Where can I find the Danish Act of Succession in English?
5. Who are in line of succession to the Danish throne?
6. Why aren't Princess Benedikte's children in line of succession
7. If the current Act of Succession with male primogeniture succession had applied in 1863, who would then have been Sovereign of Denmark today?
8. If Salic law had still applied, who would then be King of Denmark today?
9. Who was the last King to be crowned?
10. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
11. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
12. Can a Prince/Princess of Denmark marry whomever he/she wants?
13. What power does the King have today?
14. Why are some Princes/Princesses styled HRH and some HH?
15. Which are the Danish noble titles?
16. What is the Danish Coat of Arms?
17. What are the Royal Regalia?
18. Which is the finest Danish Order?
19. How is Queen Margrethe II related to other European Monarchs?

1. What is the name of the Danish Royal Family and how did this family gain the throne?
The name is Oldenburg, the branch Slesvig-Holsten-Sønderborg-Glücksborg. In 1863, when King Frederik VII died, the old house became extinct. Christian, Duke of Schlesvig-Holstein, had been elected heir to the throne and acceded the throne as King Christian IX.
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2. Can a woman become Queen Regnant in Denmark?
Yes, the Constitution was changed in 1953. Before that Salic Law applied (1853-1953), but now Denmark has primogeniture succession, which means that the oldest child inherites the throne with precedence for a son over a daughter.
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3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Denmark?
Yes, twice, even though the first one never used the title Queen of Denmark.
Margareta, Queen 1380-1412. Born 1353 at Söborg, Denmark. Parents: King Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark and Helvig of Sönderjylland. Ruled Denmark from 1376 and Norway from 1380 in the name of her son Olav. Defeated Albrekt 24 of February 1389 and was recognized as Queen of Sweden (a title she had used since 1375). She later ruled in the name of Erik, who in 1389 had been elected King of Norway and in 1396 King of Denmark and Sweden. She died 28 of October 1412 onboard her ship in the port of Flensborg. Married 9 of April 1363 at Copenhagen's Palace to King Håkan VI of Norway. Child: Olav (1370-1387).
Margrethe II, the current Queen. She acceded the throne in 1972.
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4. Where can I find the Danish act of Succession in English?
You can find it right here.
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5. Who are in line of succession to the Danish throne?
The list is very short:
1. HRH Crown Prince Frederik (b. 1968). The Queen's elder son.
2. HRH Prince Joachim (b. 1969). The Queen's younger son.
3. HH Prince Nikolai (b. 1999). Prince Joachim's elder son.
4. HH Prince Felix (b. 2002). Prince Joachim's younger son.
5. HRH Princess Benedikte (b. 1944). The Queen's sister.
6. HH Princess Elisabeth (b. 1935). The Queen's first cousin.
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6. Why aren't Princess Benedikte's children in line of succession?
When King Frederik IX gave his consent in the Council of State to Princess Benedikte's marriage to HSH Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, he also decided that the children born in this marriage should have successional rights only if they were brought up in Denmark and took permament residence in Denmark no later than when they finished school. The children of Princess Benedikte did not fulfill these permisses and are therefore believed to have lost their successional rights.
However, this could be disputed, since their is nothing in the Act of Succession that says that Princes/Princesses must be brought up in the Realm. And the Act of Succession, passed by the Parliament, ought to take precedence over a decision made by the King in the Council of State.
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7. If the current Act of Succession with male primogeniture succession had applied in 1863, who would then have been Sovereign of Denmark today?
Prince Moritz of Hesse-Cassel.
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8. If Salic law had still applied, who would then have been King of Denmark today?
Possibly Ingolf, grand son of King Christian X. When Frederik IX died in 1972, he would have been succeeded by his brother Knud, who died in 1976. Knud had two sons, Ingolf and Christian, who both lost their right to succeed when they married common Danish women. If they had been the only ones in line of succession, maybe things would have turned out differently.
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9. Who was the last King to be crowned?
That was Christian VIII.
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10. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
That was Christian IV, who reigned for 59 years, 10 months and 24 days in 1588-1648.
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11. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
Abel, who reigned 1250-1252.
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12. Can a Prince/Princess of Denmark marry whomever he/she wants?
No, he/she needs the consent of the King given in the Council of State.
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13. What power does the King have today?
According to the Constitution he is quite powerful, but in reality he has the same position as e.g. the British Queen. He appoints the Prime Minister, but he always appoints the one that he knows will be accepted by the Parliament.
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14. Why are some Princes/Princesses styled HRH and some HH?
Only the children of the Sovereign and the children of the heir to the throne are entitled to be styled His/Her Royal Highness. The rest are styled His/Her Highness.
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15. Which are the Danish noble titles?
To be answered.
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16. What is the Danish Coat of Arms?
The Danish Coat of Arms inholds three lions and nine hearts. You can see a picture of it here:

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17. What are the Royal Regalia?
To be answered.
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18. Which is the finest Danish Order?
That is the Order of the Elephant. However, Grand Commanders of the Order of Dannebrog are ranked above Knights of the Elephant.
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19. How is Queen Margrethe II related to other European Monarchs?
Norway
King Harald V and Queen Margrethe II are second cousins twice. They are descendants of the Danish King Frederik VIII. These are the lines: Frederik VIII - Haakon VII - Olav V - Harald V and Frederik VIII - Christian X - Frederik IX - Margrethe II.
And also: Frederik VIII - Ingeborg - Märtha - Harald V and Frederik VIII - Christian X - Frederik IX - Margrethe II.
Sweden
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Margrethe II are first cousins. They are descendants of the Swedish King Gustaf VI Adolf. These are the lines: Gustaf VI Adolf - Gustaf Adolf - Carl XVI Gustaf and Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid - Margrethe II.
Belgium
Queen Margrethe II and King Albert II are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of the Swedish King Oscar II. These are the lines: Oscar II - Gustaf V - Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Oscar II - Carl - Astrid - Albert II.
United Kingdom
Queen Margrethe II and Queen Elizabeth II are third cousins. They are descendants of the British Queen Victoria. These are the lines: Victoria - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Victoria - Edward VII - George V - George VI - Elizabeth II.
Spain
Queen Margrethe II and King Juan Carlos I are third cousins. They are descendants of the British Queen Victoria. These are the lines: Victoria - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Victoria - Beatrice - Eugenie (Ena) - Juan - Juan Carlos I.
Luxembourg
Queen Margrethe II and Grand Duke Henri are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of the Danish King Frederik VIII. These are the lines: Frederik VIII - Christian X - Frederik IX -Margrethe II and Frederik VIII - Ingeborg - Astrid - Joséphine-Charlotte - Henri.
The Netherlands
Queen Margrethe II and Queen Beatrix are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. These are the lines: Friedrich Franz II - Friedrich Franz III - Alexandrine - Frederik IX - Margrethe II and Friedrich Franz II - Heinrich - Juliana - Beatrix.
Liechtenstein
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Hans Adam II are fourth cousins twice removed. They are descendants of King Maximilian I Josef of Bavaria. These are the lines: Maximilian I Josef - Augusta - Josephine de Beauharnais - Carl XV - Louise - Christian X - Frederik IX - Margrethe II or Maximilian I Josef - Augusta - Josephine de Beaurnais - Oscar II Gustaf V - Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Maximilian I Josef - Sophie - Karl Ludwig - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II.
Monaco
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Rainier are fifth cousins once removed. They are descendents of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Fredrika - Sophie - Friedrich I of Baden - Victoria - Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid - Margrethe II or Karl Ludwig - Fredrika - Sophie - Cäcilie - Anastasia - Alexandrine - Frederik IX - Margrethe II and Karl Ludwig - Karl Ludwig - Marie Elisabeth - Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton - Louis II - Charlotte - Rainier III.
Greece
Queen Margrethe II and King Constantinos II are third cousins. They are descendants of the Danish King Christian IX. These are the lines: Christian IX - Frederik VIII - Christian X - Frederik IX - Margrethe II and Christian IX - Georgios I - Constantinos I -Pavlos I - Constantinos II.
Bulgaria
Queen Margrethe II and King Simeon II are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Franz Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. These are the lines: Franz Friedrich - Ernst I - Albert - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Franz Friedrich - Ferdinand - August - Ferdinand I - Boris III - Simeon II.
Portugal
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Duarte Pio are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Franz Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. These are the lines: Franz Friedrich - Ernst I - Albert - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Franz Friedrich - Ferdinand - Victoria - Gaston - Pierre - Maria Francisca - Duarte Pio.
Romania
Queen Margrethe II and King Mihai I are are third cousins. They are descendants of the British Queen Victoria. These are the lines: Victoria - Arthur - Margaret - Ingrid - Margrethe II and Victoria - Alfred - Marie - Carol II - Mihai I.
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