Danish Monarchy: Overview

Coat of Arms

The oldest Monarchy in Europe, the Danish Monarchy can trace its roots directly to Gorm the Old, he died in 958 and was the first recognized King of Denmark. Originally an elected Monarchy, it slowly moved to hereditary and by the end of the 1600’s it had evolved into an absolute Monarchy similar to that seen in France under King Louis XIV.

Constitutional Monarchy in Denmark flourished in 1849 when a new constitution was introduced under King Frederik VII.

The current reigning dynasty of Denmark is the Royal House of Glücksborg, a branch of the House of Oldenborg. Several European Monarchies are also directly related, and these include the Norwegian and British Monarchies, along with the deposed Monarchy of Greece.

Danish Royal descendants of Prince Henrik, the current Prince Consort of Denmark also add to their ‘dynatic name’ the title of Monpezat by virtue of the marriage to the Queen of Denmark. It remains to be seen if the Royal House will take the name of Monpezat.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II is the current Queen of Denmark, and head of the Danish Royal Family. The Danish Royal Family carry out hundreds of engagements in Denmark and abroad, and often act as ambassadors for the country, charitable organizations and the Danish Defence Forces.

The Royal Family includes:

  • H.M. Queen Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark & H.R.H. The Prince Henrik, The Prince Consort.
  • T.R.H. The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark
  • H.R.H. Prince Christian
  • H.R.H. Princess Isabella
  • H.R.H. Prince Vincent
  • H.R.H. Princess Josephine
  • T.R.H. The Prince Joachim and Princess Marie
  • H.H. Prince Nikolai
  • H.H. Prince Felix
  • H.H. Prince Henrik
  • H.R.H. Princess Benedikte
  • H.M. Queen Anne-Marie, Queen of the Hellenes
  • H.H. Princess Elisabeth

Extended members of the Danish Royal Family include the Greek Royal Family in its entire form, and several other people that are either related by marriage or a further down the line of succession.

In Denmark, the Monarchy is in theory the holder of power, for example the Sovereign is charged with appointing and dismissing of Prime Ministers and other State officials, though these prerogatives are rarely, if ever used. The role in recent times has been limited to a ceremonial role within Denmark.

As Queen of Denmark, the Sovereign is also Head of State of its constituent regions, these include Denmark itself, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

Succession to the throne of Denmark is governed by the Danish Act of Succession and was introduced in 1953. It works around the idea of equal primogeniture.




Family Tree of Danish Monarchy