Succession Monarchy of Denmark

crown prince frederik of denmark

denmark has had absolute primogeniture since 2009. danish act of succession adopted on 27 march 1953 restricts throne descended king christian x , wife, alexandrine of mecklenburg-schwerin, through approved marriages.

dynasts lose right throne if marry without permission of monarch given in council of state. individuals born unmarried dynasts or former dynasts married without royal permission, , descendants, excluded throne. further, when approving marriage, monarch can impose conditions must met in order resulting offspring have succession rights. part ii, section 9 of danish constitution of 5 june 1953 provides parliament elect king , determine new line of succession should situation arise there no eligible descendants of king christian x , queen alexandrine.

the monarch of denmark must member of danish national church, or evangelical lutheran church of denmark (danish constitution, ii,6). national church law state church, though monarch not head.

princes , princesses in line of succession use style prince/princess denmark, not in line use style princes/princess of denmark.

background

the first law governing succession danish throne hereditary monarchy kongeloven (latin: lex regia), enacted 14 november 1665, , published in 1709. declared crown of denmark shall descend heredity legitimate descendants of king frederick iii, , order of succession shall follow semi-salic primogeniture, according crown inherited heir, preference among monarch s children males on females; among siblings elder on younger; , among frederick iii s remoter descendants substitution, senior branches on junior branches. female descendants eligible inherit throne in event there no eligible surviving male dynasts born in male line. duchies, holstein , lauenburg king ruled duke, these lands adhered salic law (meaning males inherit ducal throne), , mutual agreement permanently conjoined. duchies of schleswig (a danish fief), holstein , lauenburg (german fiefs) joined in personal union crown of denmark.

this difference caused problems when frederick vii of denmark proved childless, making change in dynasty imminent, , causing lines of succession duchies on 1 hand , denmark on other diverge. meant new king of denmark not new duke of schleswig or duke of holstein. ensure continued adhesion of elbe duchies danish crown, line of succession duchies modified in london protocol of 1852, designated prince christian ix of schleswig-holstein-sonderburg-glücksburg, new heir apparent, although was, strictly, heir neither crown of denmark nor duchies of schleswig, holstein or lauenburg primogeniture. originally, danish prime minister christian albrecht bluhme wanted keep separate hereditary principles, in end government decided on uniform agnatic primogeniture, accepted parliament.

this order of succession remained in effect hundred years, salic law changed male-preference primogeniture in 1953, meaning females inherit, if had no brothers. in 2009, mode of inheritance of throne once more changed, time absolute primogeniture.

privileges , restrictions

royal standard of denmark.

following transformation of denmark s monarchy elective (at least theoretically, although had descended eldest son of house of oldenburg since 1448) hereditary in 1660, so-called kongelov (latin: lex regia) established right rule grace of god king frederick iii , posterity. out of articles in law, except article 21 , article 25 have since been repealed.

article 21 states no prince of blood, resides here in realm , in our territory, shall marry, or leave country, or take service under foreign masters, unless receives permission king . under provision, princes of denmark permanently reside in other realms express permission of danish crown (i.e. members of dynasties of greece, norway , united kingdom) not thereby forfeit royalty in denmark, nor bound obtain prior permission travel abroad or marry sovereign, although since 1950 not descended in male-line king christian ix no longer in line of succession danish throne. however, reside in denmark or territories continue require monarch s prior permission travel abroad , marry.

article 25 of kongelov stipulates, respect members of royal dynasty: should answer no magistrate judges, first , last judge shall king, or whomsoever decrees. although other articles of kongelov have been repealed amendments constitution in 1849, 1853 , 1953, these 2 articles have far been left intact.