Frederik X of Denmark is celebrating his 58th birthday. As is tradition, he marked the occasion in the style of the royal house, alongside his wife Queen Mary and their youngest children, with the family greeting Danish citizens from the balcony of Amalienborg Palace.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesThis year, the celebration is bittersweet: Queen Margrethe has been readmitted to Rigshospitalet after a CT scan revealed a large blood clot in her hip area stemming from a previous fall, less than a week after she was last discharged.
Notable Absences
Beyond Queen Margrethe's absence, Queen Mary, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine joined King Frederik X on the balcony of Frederik VIII's Palace at Amalienborg. The couple's eldest children, Crown Prince Christian, 21, and Princess Isabella, 19, were not present.
The day began with the royal house sharing a series of birthday portraits of Frederik X. The new pictures were taken in the Throne Hall at Christiansborg Castle. In them, the King appears in military dress, decorated with his various honors.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesThroughout the day, Danes were encouraged to send their digital congratulations through the royal house's official website and social media.
A Challenging Month for Queen Margrethe
Queen Margrethe, 86, is missing the celebration for the first time this year. May has been a difficult month for the former monarch.
On May 14, she was admitted to Rigshospitalet after suffering angina and underwent an angioplasty in a coronary artery. She was discharged six days later. Now, less than a week after that discharge, she has been readmitted following the discovery of a large blood clot in her hip, the result of a fall she suffered in September 2024. Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, the palace noted that she is doing well under the circumstances, though she is expected to remain hospitalized for several days.
A Race Born on a Royal Birthday
© Getty ImagesIt has been a busy week for the royal family. On Monday, before Margrethe's readmission, Frederik, Mary, and their four children took part in the Royal Run in different locations across the country.
The sporting event was created in 2018 to mark then-Crown Prince Frederik's 50th birthday, designed to promote physical activity and strengthen the bond between the monarchy and the public. Over the years, it has grown significantly, with this year's edition welcoming a record 111,500 participants across Denmark.
It has since become one of the country's most beloved annual sporting traditions.
A King Finding His Footing
Over the past two years, King Frederik has established a solid reign following his mother's long and popular time on the throne.
Frederik X and Queen Mary have cultivated a closer relationship with the people, easing some of the monarchy's formalities while projecting a united family image. Crown Prince Christian and his siblings have become increasingly visible with each passing year. Despite the broadly positive reception, his reign has not been without criticism, particularly when it comes to Frederik's vacation schedule and certain royal expenses. A recent talking point was the confirmation of twins Vincent and Josephine, which was attended by King Felipe VI of Spain, Prince Vincent's godfather.
© Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima
