Denmark to proclaim new king as Queen Margrethe signs historic abdication

Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik will take over the crown on Sunday when his mother, Queen Margrethe II, breaks with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retires after a 52-year reign (Martin Meissner/AP)

Thousands of people will gather in central Copenhagen on Sunday to witness a historic moment in one of the world’s oldest monarchies.

At around 2pm local time (1300 GMT), Queen Margrethe II will sign her abdication and about an hour later her eldest son will be proclaimed King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the heart of the Danish capital.