About an hour later, her 55-year-old son and crown prince will be proclaimed King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the heart of the Danish capital.

Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Year’s Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is tradition in the Danish monarchy.

Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace.

And she is an extremely respected and popular figure, so people hadn’t expected this and they were in shock,” Danish royal expert Thomas Larsen said.

Local media said hundreds were heading to the Danish capital from across the country and others were following the live TV broadcast to witness the monumental event.

The new king and queen will leave Christiansborg Palace in a horse-drawn coach and return to the royal residence, Amalienborg, where Margrethe also lives but in a separate building.

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