The secret weapon of the Danish monarchy's survival
Denmark will celebrate a historic royal milestone: the proclamation of a new monarch. Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife, Princess Mary, will take-on the new titles of king and queen in a no-frills ceremony. Historians say it's this unfussy approach that's won the royals unwavering support from the Danish public.
Transcript
00:00 Denmark is known for its design, style and cycling.
00:07 It's also home to Europe's oldest continuous monarchy.
00:10 They are of course royals but they are part of the society.
00:14 They bicycle around, they have their kids in normal schools, not private schools.
00:19 The royals are much adored by the public.
00:22 The Tasmanian-born Princess Mary won the hearts of the nation.
00:26 All Danes love Crown Princess Mary.
00:28 I'm not sure that it's the Australian thing in her, but they love her.
00:32 Her long-term dress designer says she's the ultimate international ambassador.
00:38 She's done wonderful things for our royal family and she's really light in Denmark.
00:46 There will be no grand coronation here to proclaim the new king
00:50 and many say that's just how they like it.
00:52 Yeah, it's kind of Danish. Not too many diamonds and caves and stuff like that.
01:00 The royals in Denmark, it's on a different scale than in the UK.
01:06 Not as much money, the glamour is still there, but on another scale.
01:14 Sometimes Europe's royal houses have been referred to as bicycle monarchies.
01:19 They're smaller and cheaper than their British peers
01:22 and some say the Danish royals have survived for so long
01:25 because of their drive to modernise.
01:27 In the country's National Museum, exhibits show how the monarchy has transformed
01:32 from absolute power in the 1600s to today,
01:35 the head of state in Denmark's modern democracy.
01:38 The royal family is just as old as the country.
01:41 I mean, when Denmark was gathered as one country,
01:44 which happened in the 7th century, it was under a monarch.
01:48 And it's evolved somewhat since then.
01:50 It survives also through the revolutionary years and centuries of Europe,
01:56 probably because it evolved with the society.
01:59 A new royal couple set to steer this dynasty into the decades ahead.
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