COPENHAGEN: Denmark turned a page in its history on Sunday when Queen Margrethe abdicated and her son became King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes expected to attend the unprecedented event.

Despite the winter chill, thousands of people began gathering outside Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace early Sunday, many bundled up in warm hoods and ski pants to fend off the freezing temperatures.

“We are very excited to see this historic event … it will be a very big, very important moment in Danish history,” said Renee Jense, 35, who was decked out in playful red velvet dresses and crowns with friends.

The hugely popular Queen Margrethe II, 83, will leave her residence at Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace shortly after 1.30pm (12.30 GMT) for a short carriage ride to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of government and parliament.

There she will sign the declaration of abdication at the Council of State at 2 p.m., which will end her 52-year reign, only the second time that a Danish sovereign has resigned, the last time being Erik III. almost nine centuries ago in 1146.

Her 55-year-old son Frederik – who will also attend the state council alongside his Australian-born wife Mary and their eldest child, Prince Christian, 18 – automatically becomes king and head of state after Margrethe’s abdication.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will then proclaim him King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace.

There was a heavy police presence in the capital, decorated for the occasion with red and white flags. Copenhagen police spokesman Peter Dahl said AFP he expected “more than 100,000 people” in the streets.

‘Soul of the nation’

Aske Julius, a 27-year-old resident of Copenhagen, called Margrethe “the embodiment of Denmark … the soul of the nation.” “More than half of the Danish population has never known anything other than the Queen,” he said.

Portraits and banners across the capital thanked the Queen for her years of service, with cheeky subway signs declaring “Thanks for the ride, Margrethe”.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark will abdicate after 52 years on the throne

Others read “Long Live the King”.

Apart from the abdication, the protocol is largely similar to the previous royal succession in Denmark.

No foreign dignitaries or royalty are invited, and there is no coronation or enthronement for the new monarch.

Margrethe decided to abdicate exactly 52 years to the day after taking over from her father, Frederik IX.

“There is a lot of symbolism in this day,” Cecilie Nielsen, royal correspondent for Danish public broadcaster DR, told AFP.

The queen stunned Danes when she announced her abdication in her annual televised New Year’s Eve address after repeatedly insisting she would follow tradition and rule until her death.

Even her own family was not informed until three days before. She attributed her decision to health problems after a difficult back surgery last year.

Opinion polls show that more than 80 percent of Danes support her decision.

A “different” monarch

Insiders say the current handover of the baton to her son will give him time to blossom into the role of monarch as he gradually takes on more responsibilities.

“He thinks the crown prince is fully prepared to take over. And he wants to avoid a situation like in Great Britain, where Prince Charles became King Charles after 70 years,” said historian Hovbakke Sorensen.

Like his mother, Frederik, who has been heir to the throne since the age of three, enjoys the support of more than 80 percent of Danes. But he is expected to bring his style, which dates back to the 10th century Viking Age, to the monarchy.

“Queen Margrethe II is a woman of her time and Frederik also lives in her time. He understood that he could not copy her, and he managed to define his own image, his own ties with the Danes,” said another historian, Bo Lidegaard. AFP.

“We will have a different kind of monarch, much more informal in the way he speaks to people when he travels around the country,” added his colleague Hovbakke Sorensen.

While his mother is known for her love of art and is a successful writer and artist, Frederik is an avid sportsman and environmentalist.

In Denmark, the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial, but he signs legislation, officially presides over the formation of the government and meets regularly with the cabinet.