The Danish Royal Family Celebrates the Start of King Frederik's Reign

January is normally a pretty quiet month for royal news. But not this January, and not in Denmark: After the surprise announcement on New Year's Eve that she would abdicate, Queen Margrethe became just the second Danish monarch in history (and first queen) to voluntarily give up the throne. King Frederik X ascended to the throne on January 14, and delivered a short speech from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, following Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaiming him as king. The next day, the Danish royals attended the Danish Parliament's celebration of the succession of the throne, and yesterday, the entire royal family participated in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral to mark the start of King Fredrik's reign.

Here, see all the best photos from the outing:

Queen Mary looked regal in purple as she waved to the crowds upon her arrival.

According to the Associated Press, "The hour-long service marked Frederik’s first official visit as king outside the Danish capital Copenhagen."

Mary and Frederik were joined by their four children: Prince Vincent, Prince Christian, Princess Josephine, and Princess Isabella.

Queen Margrethe was also in attendance, and also wore purple.

As did Queen Margrethe's sister, Princess Benedikte. (Benedikte is now tenth, and last, in the line of succession for the Danish throne.)

For the occasion, the new Queen wore a Søren Le Schmidt coatdress—the same designer she turned to for her Accession day outfit.

Mary wore diamond drop earrings, and a floral brooch.

King Frederik led the royals inside the Cathedral. “Normally, you would spend three months planning this, but we (had) two and a half weeks, something like that. So we have been very busy, I tell you,” Henrik Wigh-Poulsen, bishop of the Diocese of Aarhus, told The Associated Press. “I chose some of the hymns we’re going to sing, and the king said, I would like to sing these hymns.”

Prince Christian, 18, is the new Crown Prince of Denmark.

The Danish king waved to the crowds following the service.

The Danish royal family waves as snow falls.

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