COPENHAGEN Not just any 18-year-old geeks. A surreal, unforgettable experience, describes the Danish cosmetology student Noah Shange.
An admirer of the monarchy, 18-year-old Shange himself has been able to peek into the lives of the royals a little closer than usual. Namely, he attended the future crown prince of Denmark Christian’s for a birthday party in the fall of 2023. At that time, he also got to shake hands with the future king.
The change of power in Denmark surprised Shange, as did the whole nation.
Queen Margaret II announced in his traditional New Year’s speech at the end of 2023 that he would abdicate. However, Shange welcomes the one who will become the king of the country on January 14 of Frederik X.
– I’m going to watch the coronation on TV and go to school with my mother in honor of the celebration. At the same time, I thought about what the new royal house would bring. This is something completely new.
Shange belongs to the majority of citizens: Danish radio survey and news agency conducted in December Ritzau an opinion poll published in January shows that the King’s House enjoys exceptionally high popularity.
According to polls, the majority of respondents think the royals have a positive message and want to preserve the monarchy.
In addition, up to 92 percent of citizens say that Queen Margareta has performed her duties well or very well. However, 81 percent think that he made the right decision to abdicate.
Those who are familiar with the royal family estimate that the reason for the popularity is, among other things, that the royal house has been close to the people and has lived up to the times.
The outgoing Queen Margaret II is known, for example, as an art enthusiast. The Queen’s works have been enjoyed, among other things, at the Amalienborg art exhibition and most recently at Tivoli’s Snow Queen ballet, for which she designed the costumes and set.
Crown Prince Frederik, on the other hand, is known to the people for example from the Royal Run marathon and the annual Kronprinsparrets Priser gala, where the future royal couple has awarded Danish cultural figures.
Frederik’s spouse, the crown princess who was born in Australia and has excellent knowledge of the Danish language Mary is even slightly more popular than her husband.
Unforgettable birthday parties
Taking citizens into account is passed down from father to son. When Frederik’s firstborn, Prince Christian, came of age, young people of the same age from all over the country were invited to his birthday reception.
Thousands of young people applied for the party through their home municipality, and 200 of them were chosen to spend a more extravagant 18th birthday party at Christiansborg Castle.
Noah Shange, who lives in Fredrigsberg in the Copenhagen area, was one of them.
– I sent an application to the municipality of Frederiksberg and told, as requested, what our municipality is like for us young people. Later, the municipality called and told me that I had been selected. It felt incredible.
At the party held at Christiansborg Castle, Shange was able to dine and enjoy music in a royal setting with other invited guests.
– The occasion made me feel that the prince is just like the rest of us.
Mother of Noah Shange Betina Shange participates in the conversation and exclaims that it was possible – and worthwhile – to organize the prince’s birthday party for two reasons: First, Christian was not yet the crown prince but only a prince in status. So there was no need to invite ministers and other important officials.
– Secondly, this was an excellent way to get young people interested in royalty. What a chance to get into the party of the century!
Noah Shange has also noticed that the invitations have increased young people’s interest in royalty – and even invited guests.
– A few times some other young people have stopped me and asked for an autograph. They had seen from the media that I had been allowed to participate in the party.
The monarchy pays – but let it pay
A small part of Danes opposes the monarchy because of its large expenses and because one family is in a higher position than others.
After the queen’s announcement, the republic-promoting organization Republik nu founded the campaign #IkkeMinKonge, which demands a president elected by popular vote.
The maintenance of the king’s room is not cheap. Among other things A politician– magazine says that the monarchy’s expenses have increased over the years.
According to the country’s finance law, a good 16 million euros are spent on the monarchy per year. It covers, among other things, the state benefits of the queen, the crown prince and the next prince, as well as the salaries of the royal palace staff.
Even if the change in the value of money is taken into account, the amount is many times compared to 1972, when Margareeta came to power.
King’s room according to Queen Margareta’s state benefit, which includes personnel, security and real estate costs, among other things, is around one million euros per month.
Crown Prince Frederik’s monthly state benefit is a good 250,000 euros, of which Crown Princess Mary receives 10 percent. 18-year-old Prince Christian’s state benefit is just under 45,000 euros per month.
In 2018, the evening newspaper Extra Bladet though revealedthat the actual expenses of the King’s House were a total of around 50 million euros – almost four times larger than what the finance law at the time said.
With the change of power, the royals’ annual fees have been reviewed again. Ritzau according to the government is ready to distribute even more crowns to the royal family than at present.
18-year-old Noah Shange is not bothered by the big expenses of the monarchy.
– The King’s House has a positive effect on Denmark and the Danes. I’m fine with putting money into royalty.
Born in 1968.
Was four years old when his mother was crowned queen.
The sporty family man is known, among other things, as a fan of sailing and marathons.
Wife: Future Queen, Australian-born Mary. The couple met in 2000.
Children: Future Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
Frederik’s coronation ceremony will take place on January 14, 2024. In the afternoon, the crown prince couple will travel through the center of Copenhagen by car from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle, followed by the Queen’s horse-drawn carriage procession.
The change of power is signed in Christiansborg, after which the prime minister declares that the throne has changed, and Frederik makes his first speech as king.
After the festivities, the new royal couple drive back to Amalienborg. The royal flags are moved from the Queen’s Castle to the King’s Castle.