Denmark: Background on succession to the throne

When the Danish Royal Court in the early evening of 31 December 2023 announced that Queen Margrethe II had decided to abdicate on 14 January 2024, it promised that it's website www.kongehuset.dk was going to «be updated regularly with information regarding the succession of the throne». Since then four articles/press statements have been published, and I made links to three of them in my article on Queen Margrethe's abdication plans yesterday.

Today, 3 January 2024, the Danish Royal court has published an article called «Background on succession to the throne», which addresses at least one of the questions I asked yesterday:

Background on succession to the throne

Since the 1600s, the Danish monarchy has been a so-called hereditary monarchy, in which the Crown is inherited upon the death of the sovereign.

The Act on Succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Denmark from 1953 thus stipulates that the Danish throne is inherited within the descendants of Christian 10. and Queen Alexandrine.

Until 1953, only male descendants of the king were able to inherit the throne. That was changed in 1953, when, following a referendum, it was determined that female descendants should also be able to inherit the throne, but in such a way, however, that male descendants should have precedence.

It was the amendment of the rules for succession in 1953 that prepared the way for HM The Queen to be able to assume the throne after the death of her father, Frederik 9., on 14 January 1972.

With the most recent amendment of the Act of Succession in 2009, equality in the succession to the throne was implemented. This means that the throne is now inherited by the sovereign’s oldest child – regardless of gender.

In Denmark, the tradition up to the present has been that the succession to the throne takes place upon the death of the sovereign, as was the case most recently in 1972. In these instances, the succession occurs the moment the sovereign dies.

The upcoming succession to the throne will be different. This time, the succession will first take place during the meeting of the Council of State at the moment The Queen has signed a declaration of her abdication. 

HRH The Crown Prince will thus arrive at Christiansborg Palace as a crown prince and leave it as King. Likewise, HRH The Crown Princess will arrive as a crown princess and depart as Queen. HRH Prince Christian will leave Christiansborg Palace as Crown Prince (heir to the throne). 

Upon the succession to the throne, the new sovereign takes charge of all of the functions which, according to the constitution, are incumbent on the head of state.

From this article we learn that the relevant Danish authorities believe that the abdication will come into force during the meeting of the Council of State the very second the queen has signed a declaration of her abdication. I don't know enough about Danish constitutional law to oppose this view, but it would be interesting to know more about what the view is based on, legally speaking. To me it would be more logic if the said declaration of abdication came into force the second it was announced in Lovtidende (the Danish Legal Gazette) and/or added to the Protocol. Again, as I also wrote yesterday, I hope we are going to get more details on the legal procedure before the Council of State takes place.

Denmark: Queen Margrethe II to abdicate on 14 January 2024

On Sunday 31 December 2023, Queen Margrethe II announced in her televised new year's speech that she had decided to abdicate on 14 January 2024.

The relevant part of the speech said:

Tonight, I would like to express a very special thank you. Thank you for the warmth and devotion which I and my family have received throughout many, many years. 

In two weeks time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody – also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of “ailments” increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past. 

In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. 

I have decided that now is the right time. On 14th January, 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik. 

Tonight, I first and foremost would like to express my thanks. Thank you for the overwhelming warmth and support which I have received during all these years. Thank you to the changing governments with whom the collaboration always has been rewarding, and thank you to The Parliament, who have always vested their confidence in me. 

Thank you to the many, many people who on special occasions and in everyday life have embraced me and my family with kind words and thoughts, turning the years into a string of pearls. 

The support and assistance which I have received throughout the years, have been crucial to the success of my task. It is my hope that the new King and Queen will be met with the same trust and devotion which have fallen to my lot. 

They deserve it! Denmark deserves it!

The Royal Court followed by the issuing the following press statement:

Her Majesty the Queen has tonight, in her New Year's Address, announced that Her Majesty will step down as Queen of Denmark on 14th January, 2024 and will hand over the throne to HRH the Crown Prince. 

The Danish Royal Court’s website www.kongehuset.dk will be updated regularly with information regarding the succession of the throne.

On 1 January 2024 the court gave some historical details on the subject of abdication, and today we learned that there will be changes in the Royal House of Denmark's leadership in connection with the change of monarch. The current Chief of the Court of TRH The Crown Prince and The Crown Princess, Christian Schønau, will assume the position of Lord Chamberlain of The Royal House of Denmark on 14 January, replacing Kim Kristensen, who has served as Lord Chamberlain since 2021.

We were all very surprised by the abdication news, as the queen on several occasions in the past has ruled out the possibility. Her ailing health made her to change her mind. So on 14 January 2024, on the day 52 years since she succeeded to the throne of Denmark after the death of her father, King Frederik IX, Queen Margrethe II will formally abdicate and be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, b. 1968, who will reign under the name Frederik X. His wife, the current Crown Princess Mary, b. 1972, becomes Queen and Prince Christian, b. 2005, becomes Crown Prince. Queen Margrethe will after her abdication continue to be styled Majesty, cf. the press statement from the Prime Minister's Office and of the royal court, but will not be formally titled Her Majesty The Queen anylonger, but «only» HM Queen Margrethe.

The possibility to abdicate the throne, even if it is regulated in the Act of Succession section 6, is not a tradition in Denmark, and we have to go back to 1146 to find the last time someone voluntarily gave up the throne. King Erik III Lam, who decided to become a munk, was allegedly of poor health and died later the same year. Christian II (1481–1559) was deposed in 1523 and was thus the last monarch of Denmark not to have died while reigning.

We will surely learn more about how the abdication is carried out legally in due time. One thing is to announce your intention to abdicate, another is how this intention become law. The Act of Succession Section 6 only says that «The provisions of Sections 2-5 shall apply correspondingly in the case of the abdication of a King.» I gather that Queen Margrethe II in the Council of State on 14 January 2024 will give a written and signed declaration of abdication and that this will be added to the Protocol. While abdication has been unheard of in modern Denmark, we have examples of royal members who have renounced their rights to the throne – Prince Carl in 1905 when he became King of Norway, and Princess Anne-Marie when she was to marry King Constantine II of the Hellenes in 1964. Both renunciations were added to the Protocol. As far as I understand, this is the same protocol that is called «Slegt Register over Fødselen i den Kongelige Familie» («Family Register of the Birth in the Royal Family») and is regulated by royal resolution of 25 February 1779. I have never seen the text of this resolution though, so it is possible that also customary law applies. Again, we will surely get more details soon. 

Serbia: Royal birth

The Office of Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia announced today the birth of Princess Marija, second child of Prince Philip and Princess Danica:

Belgrade, 5 November 2023 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine announce with joy that the Royal Family of Serbia today gained a new member. HRH Princess Danica, the wife of HRH Hereditary Prince Philip, gave birth to daughter Marija, in Belgrade on 5 November at 12:31 PM.

“With great happiness and joy, the entire Royal family of Serbia has received the news that my son, HRH Hereditary Prince Philip, and daughter-in-law, HRH Princess Danica, have became the parents of a beautiful baby girl, Her Royal Highness Princess Marija, my granddaughter. 

Each childbirth brings joy but knowing that Karadjordjevics are again being born in our homeland, it is what brings special happiness to my heart. It is what I had dreamt of during the times of exile. With sincere congratulations and wishes to the parents for good health, I am sharing my great joy of becoming a proud grandfather once again!”, stated HRH Crown Prince Alexnader.

The mother and the baby are doing well. The parents, TRH Prince Philip and Princess Danica, and brother HRH Prince Stefan, warmly thank everyone for their congratulations.

Prince Philip and Princess Danica's eldest child, Prince Stefan, was born in Belgrade on 25 February 2018.

Updated on Wednesday 8 November 2023 at 09:40 (time of birth changed from AM to PM, the press release must have been changed since this blog article was published).

Norway: Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett to marry in August 2024

It was announced from Princess Märtha Louise of Norway's Instagram account today, 13 September 2023, that she and Durek Verrett will celebrate their wedding at Hotel Union in Geiranger on 31 August 2024.

Their engagement was announced on 7 June 2022.

The King and Queen of Norway as well as the Crown Prince couple have expressed their congratulations in a statement issued by the Royal Palace earlier today:

Congratulations

Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise and Mr Durek Verrett announced today that they will marry in August 2024. Their Majesties The King and Queen, and Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess extend their congratulations.

13.09.2023

Greetings from The King and Queen

The Queen and I are delighted that Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett have announced their wedding plans today. We are happy to include Durek Verret in our family and look forward to celebrating the big day with them. We wish Märtha and Durek all the best. 

Greetings from The Crown Prince and Crown Princess

We congratulate Princess Märtha and Durek Verrett on their wedding in August next year. We are happy for them and look forward to celebrating with them in Geiranger. We wish Märtha, Durek and the girls all the best for the future.

Gjallarhorn nr. 72, juni 2023

 

Jeg mottok Gjallarhorn nr. 72, juni 2023, i posten for en liten stund siden og tenkte jeg som vanlig skulle skrive noen ord. Tidsskriftet er som det fremgår av forsiden felles medlemsblad for Vestfold Slektshistorielag, som jeg er medlem av, og Buskerud Slektshistorielag, som jeg kunne ha vært medlem av, ettersom jeg har røtter blant annet i Skoger (men nå var jo Skoger opprinnelig et herred i Vestfold ...) og i Modum.

Innholdsfortegnelse:

• Protokoll fra årsmøtet i Vestfold Slektshistorielag den 8. februar 2023, s. 4.
• Referat fra Medlemsmøter. Vestfold Slektshistorielag, s. 5–9.
• Årsberetning for 2022 Buskerud slektshistorielag, s. 10–11.
• Protokoll fra årsmøtet i Buskerud Slektshistorielag den 8. februar 2023, s. 12.
• Referat fra Medlemsmøter. Buskerud slektshistorielag, s. 13.
• Torbjørn Steen-Karlsen: Nes i Sandeherred & Mannsnavnet Timand, s. 14–24.
• Torbjørn Steen-Karlsen: Vestre Nes i Sandeherred – Øvre Såtvedt i Sandsvær – Tarandrød i Andeby og Nordre Kverne i Arnadal, s. 24–36.
• Ketil Firing-Hanssen: Etterkommere av David Sinclair, fogd i Buskerud og Eiker, s. 37–47.
• Gro Hege Ødegård: Et tidsbilde fra barndom og oppvekst i Tønsberg-distriktet under og etter 2dre verdenskrig, s. 48–50.
• Eli Ulriksen: En grav i Swakopmund, s. 51–57.
• Erik Bjune: Hurum gårds- og slektshistorie utgitt i vinter, s. 58.
• Et lite dykk i Vestfold slektsenters bibliotek, s. 59.

Den første artikkelen til Torbjørn Steen-Karlsen tar utgangspunkt i Østre Nes i Sandeherred (Sandar), og det heter innledningsvis at gården i 1590 ble satt til 9 pund smør, herav 1 1/2 pund for Oksås. Ved et forlik på gården 17. juni 1590 med Jens Brønnum «ble enken Live Nes og hennes (umyndige) barn tilkjent hele denne parten.» Deretter følger en avskrift av forliket hentet fra Sandeherreds prestearkiv. På s. 16 stilles det opp en slektsoversikt over Tor Østre Nes' barn med Live, nemlig e N.N. Torsdatter, som  hadde sønnen Timand og Rolf Jonsen Hørtvedt, og Live (Torsdatter?) n. 1653-1661, som hadde barna Sebjørn og Gryte. Mye av artikkelen omhandler etterslekten til denne Timand. Artikkelforfatteren påstår her at de fleste med navnet Timand på Østlandet har sitt navn fra denne Timand, deriblant mange i USA. Artikkelen handler mye om etterslekt i Sandsvær. Man finner noen av disse Timand'ene (er Timand en versjon av Tidemand, forresten?) i Høeg, Hans. Sandsvær-slekten Bjerknes Evju gjennom 600 år, Høvik, 1953.

Torbjørn Steen-Karlsens neste artikkel tar utgangspunkt i Vestre Nes i Sandeherred (Sandar), med slektslinjer til Øvre Såtvedt i Sandsvær, Tarandrød i Andebu og Nordre Kverne i Arnadal. Som vanlig er det 1600- og 1700-talls materiale Steen-Karlsen jobber med, og kommer man seg tilbake til slektene som han tar for seg kan man få litt ekstra hjelp på veien. I artikkelen kommer man for øvrig innom slekts-/tilnavnene Pestel (Pestell, Pestil) i Holmestrand og Nibe (Niibe).

Ketil Firing Hanssens artikkel omhandler David Sinclair, som var fogd over Buskerud fogderi fra rundt 1652 til 1663. Hanssen skriver: «David Sinclair oppgis å være 46 år gammel i 1665, og dermed født ca. 1619. Hans etterslekt er beskrevet av E.A. Thomle i Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift i 1893, men denne framstillingen er mangelfull. 130 år senere kommer altså en oppdatering, men siste ord er nok ennå ikke skrevet. Selv om denne artikkelen inneholder en omfattende oversikt over etterkommere i 3–4 generasjoner, er det nok mangler i barneflokkene og mangelfulle opplysninger om flere av etterkommerne.» Thomles artikkel fra 1893 het for øvrig «Hans Jenssøn Grønbechs Slægtebok» (Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift, 3. rekke, 2. bind, s. 277–279). Det er mange (eldre) artikler i Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift, Norsk Personalhistorisk Tidsskrift og Norsk Slektshistorisk Tidsskrift som fortjener en ny gjennomgang og oppdatering, og Hanssen har gitt et verdifullt bidrag i så måte. Det er en del interessante navn i slektsoversikten, blant annet støter vi på slektsnavn som Finne, Faye, Blom, Moestue og Bjørn.

Det er positivt at tidsskriftet dekker flere tidsperioder og ikke bare omhandler rene slektsartikler, men også selvbiografisk stoff. Mange i min foreldres generasjon har vært flinke til å skrive ned minner som vil være av interesse også for andre enn den nærmeste slekts- og vennekretsen. Tidsbildet fra Tønsberg-distriktet under og etter 2. verdenskrig er Gro Hege Ødegårds bearbeidede manuskript ført i pennen av søsteren Tove Gunn Gulliksen (1942–2021). Vi kan være glade for at Tove fikk skrevet ned sine minner fra barndommen før hun så brått gikk bort i september 2021.

Artikkelen «En grav i Swakopmund» av Eli Ulriksen forteller historien til sjømannen og hvalfangeren  Alf Sverre Fredriksen (1883–1925), som var bestefar til artikkelforfatterens ektemann. Fredriksen døde av tyfoidfeber i Swakopmund i dagens Namibia. Ulriksen har gjort en solid innsats med å finne frem til informasjon om Fredriksen gjennom sjømannsruller, kontakt med museet i Swakopmund m.m., og det var en god avslutning på artikkelen å få vite at graven fortsatt eksisterer og at gravstenen er i god stand.

I våres ble endelig de to første bindene av Hurums gårds- og slektshistorie lansert. Dette er et prosjekt i Hurum historielag som har pågått i 17 år og med Torunn Haug, Svein Becken, Tale Eriksen, Håvard Kilhavn og Erik Bjune i redaksjonen. De to første bindene dekker 57 gårdsnumre i gamle Hurum kommune, mens det tredje bindet vil komme ut i løpet av 2024 og vil inneholde de eldste tettstedene (Rødtangen, Holmsbu, Verket/Bogen og Filtvet) samt utfyllende navne- og stedsregistre. Jeg gleder meg til å se nærmere på utgavene når jeg får anledning!

Short English summary: This article is about the latest issue of Gjallarhorn, the newsletter of Vestfold Slektshistorielag and Buskerud Slektshistorielag (Vestfold Genealogical Society and Buskerud Genealogical Society).

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway to join the army

 

Photo: © 2023 The Royal Court/Øivind Möller Bakken.

Photo: © 2023 The Royal Court/Liv Anette Luane.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway graduated from Elvebakken videregående skole (upper secondary school) last week. The second photo above was released by the Norwegian Royal Court yesterday, showing the princess together with her parents Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at the graduation ceremony.

Yesterday the Norwegian Royal Court also revealed Princess Ingrid Alexandra's plans for the near future. In the fall she will work at her former school Uranienborg in Oslo as a school assistant and environmental health worker. In January 2024 she will start on her 12 months long basic miltary service at Skjold Military Camp at Øverbygd in Målselv municipality, Troms and Finnmark county. Skjold Camp is the home base for the 2nd Batalion and the Engineers' Batalion. After the recruit period she will be given a service position and carry out a period with more specific education followed by a division period with more training and exercises.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra is 2nd in line of succession to the Norwegian throne and will as future monarch and head of state also become commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. In my opinion it is therefore important that she does her military service and gets a basic training and better understanding of the Armed Forces. I am therefore very pleased for the choices she had made so far.

UK: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have become parents again

Princess Eugenie of York announced on her Instagram account today, 5 June 2023, that she gave birth to her and her husband Jack Brooksbank's second son on 30 May 2023:

Jack and I wanted to share the news that we had our little boy, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank on 30th May 2023 at 8.49 weighing 7.1lbs.

He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald.

Augie is loving being a big brother already.

The couple's first son, August, was born on 9 February 2021. The (almost) newborn baby boy, who is 13th in line of succession to the British throne, has, if I understand it correctly, been named Ernest after his great-great-great-grandfather King George V (1865–1936), whose full name was George Frederick Ernest Albert, George after his grandfather George Brooksbank (1949–2021), father of Jack, and Ronnie after his great-grandfather Ronald Ferguson (1931–2003), father of Sarah, Duchess of York. 

The announcement doesn't say anything about where the baby boy was born, but I would guess that Portland Hospital in London, where August was born, is the most likely place of birth.