On December 31, 2024, King Frederik X of Denmark delivered his first New Year’s speech, a few days before his first anniversary of reign. King Frederik chose to address the Danes from his residence, Frederick VIII Palace in Amalienborg.
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King Frederik X delivered his first end-of-year speech from Frederick VIII Palace
Since 1941, Danish sovereigns have addressed the population on New Year’s Eve. Christian X was the first Danish king to give a speech in 1941, broadcast on the radio. It was King Frederick IX who gave his first speech broadcast on television. Her daughter, Queen Margrethe II respected this tradition until last year. On December 31, 2023, Queen Margrethe announced her desire to abdicate, a decision that was unknown to everyone.
Queen Margrethe abdicated on January 14, 2024, her 52nd reign. His eldest son, Frederik Like his mother and his ancestors before him, Frederik gave his New Year’s Eve speech. The new king brought his personal touch by sitting around a table in the reception room of Frederick VIII Palace, his residence at the Amalienborg complex in Copenhagen. Tradition dictates that the speech always ends with the motto “God save Denmark”, a tradition that Frederik also respected.
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“The New Year clearly shows the passage of time. When the clock strikes 12, two years touch and endings become beginnings”declared King Frederik X, 56, in his first end-of-year speech. “Tonight we say goodbye to the old year and usher in the new year. Just like we did year after year. »
“And yet, something has changed. For my mother, Queen Margrethe, for me and for you. Even though we’ve all had a year to get used to the idea, I’m aware that there may still be some who are a little nervous around me. Because can the New Year’s speech be given by anyone other than Queen Margrethe? »declared the king in a joking tone.
“Many take stock on New Year’s Eve. What do we remember from the past year and what are we looking forward to in the year to come? I take one day in particular with me. January 14. The journey through the streets of Copenhagen to Christiansborg. My mother’s last day of reign. A few minutes before the balcony doors opened. A very deep breath. Christiansborg Palace Square. The crowd in front of me. My family right behind me », remembers the new sovereign with emotion.
“Showing up and experiencing so much support, joy and love. Standing on the balcony with Queen Mary as a Danish royal couple. Taking it all in – or at least trying to – was emotional. I’ll keep this with me. We will keep this with us. Forever. Thank you so much.
A year ago, my mother gave her New Year’s speech number 52. A speech that was her last. This evening I am making my first speech. There is a first time for everything and a last time for everything. These eras tend to stand out more clearly than any others. These are beginnings and endings throughout life, and we attach particular importance to them. The first day of school and the last. We remember them. And we celebrate.
Our family also did this this summer, when the Crown Prince graduated from high school and brought a celebratory end to a successful youth education with thousands of other young people. I have always loved this time of year. When our young people jump around with hats of all colors and occupy the streets, alleys and beaches arm in arm. Who doesn’t remember the overwhelming feeling of freedom? The whole world was open and every door was just waiting for a handle.
It seems easy and fun when youth is unleashed. And at the same time, it can be anything but that. Many young people are losing their footing. Not for a moment, but for a long time. For some, so much so that they get sick. “Why can’t I be like everyone else?”, they might ask. There is rarely a simple answer. Conversely, we know that it is useful to have someone to confide in and lean on. Our nearest and dearest are our most important guardrails. Both when life knocks us down and when it overwhelms us.
As parents of four teenagers, Mary and I have learned that you have to take the time to listen. Ask without assuming. Delay rather than act immediately. Our children are different. Young people too. There is no universal history. We get a better idea of who young people are by letting them express themselves individually. Time and time again, they impress with their understanding of themselves and others. They are courageous in my eyes. Because they dare to show their vulnerability and see it as strength. Today’s young people are defending themselves. You dare to be both. Both vulnerable and strong.
In an age of increasing polarization, this nuance easily disappears. We risk reducing the world to its extremes when we raise our fronts. “Are you for or against?”, we are asked. We may be somewhere in between. Because we are able to see things from multiple perspectives and put ourselves in other people’s shoes. It’s one of our finest qualities as human beings and it’s something we Danes excel at.
I myself have often borrowed someone else’s gaze and seen something new. It can be challenging, but it’s always rewarding, whether we look at things in exactly the same way or not. We must not let disagreements prevent us from exchanging our perceptions and attitudes. It is in this exchange that we have the opportunity to move and get closer. Our luck is that we trust each other at home. There is great trust between us. It is thus easier to see the other before the adversary.
Volunteering is an example of humanity, and most Danes engage in volunteer work at some point. This can range from practicing at the tables with the kids in the homework cafe to starting a new gymnastics team that stands up to hold a person’s hand when life runs out. Volunteering takes many forms. The common denominator is that it makes sense for all parties, both the one giving their time and the one accepting it.
Volunteers maintain countless offerings and activities. Also the Royal Run, where 2,500 volunteers lined up this year so we could all go running together in the five host cities. To all of you who put part of your profits into the common core, thank you. I would also like to thank everyone I meet in the audience. This is one of the many joys of my new role; continue a tradition where I greet people who have spent their entire professional lives in the same workplace and where I hear life stories from all regions of the kingdom.
The electrician who installed electricity in half the city. The educator who has cared for generations and cared for children who found themselves parents to new children in the same place. Most people don’t understand where the time has gone, but thanks to their years of diligence, they are part of the backbone of Denmark. This also applies to you who look after our safety and security; people from the police, emergency services and defence. You who are at risk for all of us. Thank you for your important efforts.
We live in troubled times. We eagerly follow developments in the Middle East and sympathize with the many families who are suffering. In Europe, not far from here, the Ukrainian people are courageously fighting for their freedom. And for ours. The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder that we cannot take peace for granted. Not even on our continent. Europe must remain firm on our common values.
75 years ago, Denmark was one of 12 countries that created the NATO defense alliance. Together we wanted to ensure security and peace. Since then, several countries have joined. More recently, Finland and Sweden. This strengthens the Nordic region. This strengthens Europe. This strengthens our common defense of freedom. We can only resolve global conflicts if we are united internationally. This also applies to the fight for the health of the planet.
The riches of nature are lent. No one owns the sky or the sea. The forests or the valleys. The meadows or the stars. Our duty is to take care of our land, because tomorrow is also a day. We must follow all paths that lead in the right direction. Not one path at a time, but all paths at once. We already have many good solutions, and together they bring hope for the future. A hope to which we must cling and act.
The first time and the last time. Beginnings and endings during a lifetime. We remember it often. But there’s also all that from time to time. Daily life. Ordinary days that matter less, but which constitute the essential part of life. I am grateful for my daily life with Queen Mary, our four children and our two dogs. I am delighted that Prince Joachim and Princess Marie have settled well in Washington with their children and that my mother is enjoying her new life.
Daily life can quickly carry us away. Suddenly, a week, a month, a year has passed. What’s left? Cohesion does that. Mary and I felt it on January 14, and we feel it when we are around the Kingdom of Denmark. There is a very special atmosphere when we meet you where you live and live. When we get a glimpse of your daily life.
We are all connected and everyone is obligated to the Kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig – which is even outside the kingdom – to Greenland. We belong together. Mary and I definitely felt that when we visited both places and everything else. We have the Faroe Islands to visit and can’t wait to come to the North Atlantic this summer.
I wish all Danes – at home and abroad – a Happy New Year. We have reason to be proud and happy. Trust. Humanity. Cohesion.
My first New Year’s speech. It will never happen again, but I will never forget it. They say that “a good start is half done”. Perhaps that’s saying too much, but Mary and I couldn’t have asked for a better start as a royal couple. We can’t wait to tackle everything that comes next in the new year, and especially to see it through to the end. With each other and with all of you. Thank you for the past year and a very happy new year. God save Denmark. »
