King Frederik X and Queen Mary are currently on a major trip of almost a week to Greenland, one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of Denmark. The sovereigns are visiting this vast territory for the first time since the beginning of Frederik’s reign. The King and Queen are travelling on board the royal ship Dannebrog.
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King Frederik X visits his Arctic country for the first time in his reign
The Kingdom of Denmark consists of three constituent countries, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. Greenland, located in North America, was settled by the Vikings from the 10th century onwards. The Norwegians brought the territory under their Crown in the 13th century. Norway itself was ruled by Danish kings from 1523 until the union dissolved in 1814. At that time, Greenland remained under the Danish Crown, while Norway formed a new union under the Swedish Crown.
Long considered a colony, Denmark granted Greenland the status of an overseas county in 1953, before finally granting it autonomy in 1979. Having joined the European Union at the same time as Denmark in 1973, the Greenlandic population requested its withdrawal from the EU by referendum, which was granted in 1985. As a constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is represented by two members of the Folketing, the Danish parliament. As an autonomous region, Greenland has its own government headed by a prime minister (currently Múte Bourup Egede) and its own parliament (called Inatsisartut) which has 31 members.
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This Saturday, June 29, 2024, King Frederik X and Queen Mary arrived in northwest Greenland, aboard the royal ship Dannebrog. Until Saturday July 6, they will visit Greenland, a territory of nearly 2.2 million square kilometers for nearly 57,000 inhabitants, 20,000 of whom live in Nuuk, the capital. The Danish sovereigns start their journey in the north of the country, in the village of Pituffik, then they will return over the days along the west coast. The entire day of Wednesday will also be devoted to the long journey necessary to reach Nuuk, further south.
Shortly before 11 a.m., King Frederik and Queen Mary arrived in Pituffik, a village of 235 inhabitants, which is an entity of the town of Qaanaaq. For a long time this base was known under the name Thule, before its name change. The immense territory of Greenland is divided into only five municipalities and a natural park. Pituffik is located in the municipality of Avanaata. Pituffik is actually a locality formed around an air and space base.
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Return to Qaanaaq, 24 years after the Sirius sled expedition
Múte Bourup Egede, chairman of Naalakkersuisut, the Greenlandic government, was on hand to welcome the royal couple as they landed on the ground. After a reception, attended by local authorities, King Frederik and Queen Mary travelled to Qaanaaq, the town of 620 inhabitants that supports the base.
Qaanaaq is Greenland’s northernmost town, although it is not located at the northern end of the territory, which is unoccupied. Local authorities as well as Mimi Karlsen, president of Inatsisartut, the Greenlandic parliament, were present. King Frederik has a special bond with Qaanaaq. In 2000, when he was crown prince, he took part in the Sirius sled expedition.
On June 29, King Frederik had an emotional reunion with companions from the four-month expedition. For Queen Mary, Qaanaaq also brings back memories. Qaanaaq was the first place she visited on her very first trip to Greenland in 2004 with Frederik, shortly after their wedding. A reception was held on Saturday to welcome the royal couple, with music and hot drinks. The old sled used by Frederik during his expedition was on display.
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Traditional welcome in Aasiaat, Greenland’s fifth largest city
Late in the afternoon, the royal couple took the plane to Aasiaat, a little further south, where they landed around 7 p.m. King Frederik and Queen Mary were welcomed by Mayor Ane Hansen and members of the city council. Aasiaat is the 5th largest city in Greenland, with over 3200 inhabitants. Aaasiaat is located in the commune of Qeeqertaliq and has a view of Disko Bay.
King Frederik and Queen Mary were received at the Aasiaat Museum, greeted by cannon fire and a choir. The couple crossed the city to reach Niels Egede Square. The square is named after this 18th-century Lutheran missionary, who founded a settlement named after him, Egedesminde, now renamed from a Greenlandic name, Aasiaat. In the evening, the king and queen reboarded the royal ship Dannebrog.
