Queen Margrethe's scandal-hit son Crown Prince Frederik will take the throne ... trends now
As Denmark's Queen Margrethe II announces she will abdicate the throne after a 52-year reign, the country will face a new future under the rule of her scandal-hit son, Crown Prince Frederik.
Her Majesty's eldest son has dominated the headlines in recent months after rumours the married father-of-two had an alleged 'affair' with a Mexican socialite after being spotted on a night out in Madrid in October.
Frederik, who with his wife Princess Mary for 23 years, was spotted enjoying an evening with Genoveva Casanova, during which they strolled in the park, went to an art exhibition and had a meal while watching flamenco.
While the Royal Household refused to comment on photos of the pair together, Genoveva issued a public statement denying any kind of romantic relationship and called the rumours 'malicious'.
Despite the swirling rumours of the alleged 'affair', the 55-year-old Crown Prince and his Australian-born wife, 51, appeared loved up as they headed into Aarhus cathedral on Sunday, December 24.
Crown Prince Frederik will become King of Denmark in from January 14 as his mother Queen Margrethe II announces her abdication. Pictured: Frederik giving a speech at the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen in September 2022
Married Frederik was subject to scandalous headlines after he was pictured having dinner with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October. Pictured: Frederik and Genoveva Casanova in Madrid
From January 14 he will become the King of Denmark, while Mary will become Queen, as his mother steps down after more than five decades of rule.
Queen Margrethe made the shock announcement during her traditional New Year's Eve speech, saying it was time 'to leave the responsibility to the next generation'.
The abdication means Frederik and Mary's eldest son Christian, 18, will become Crown Prince months after signing a formal promise to uphold the country's constitution should he become king.
During his adulthood Crown Prince Frederik has completed a number of academic and military courses, attaining the rank of Major General in Denmark's Army and Air Force, as well as Rear Admiral in its Navy.
He earned the nickname 'Pingo' after completing a Navy scuba diving course after his wetsuit filled up with water, forcing him to waddle like a penguin.
Frederik has been married to Princess Mary for 19 years, with their relationship often being dubbed a 'real-life fairytale'.
The couple had met when Mary, then a 28-year-old marketing executive, struck up a conversation with Frederik at a pub in Sydney in 2000 and had no idea he was royalty.
The 32-year-old prince asked Mary for her number, and from their their romance blossomed into a beautiful marriage and feel-good story which has also produced four children.
However, in recent months Frederik has been subject to scandalous headlines and rumours alleging an 'affair'.
In October photographs emerged showing Frederick enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid, sparking rumours about the Danish royal.
Photos of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Genoveva Casanova on a night out in Madrid without his wife Crown Princess Mary emerged in October. Pictures, taken throughout the day, showed the pair having a stroll around El Retiro Park
Lecturas claimed both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately at around 7pm. Genoveva, dressed in jeans and a brown coat, is seen heading into her apartment building
The Crown Prince is pictured heading into Genoveva's apartment building to change his clothes following a walk in the park at around 7pm
Frederik is seen leaving Genoveva's apartment building before heading to dinner. He appears to have to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket
The pair are seen outside the apartment in Madrid at around 9pm before heading out to dinner. Photos show Genoveva ditched her chic camel coat with a tie belt in favour of a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders
The pair appeared to head into a Flamenco show at the Corral de la Morería in Madrid. They are pictured outside the venue at around 1am. The magazine claimed the pair remained at their table, which had been flanked by two of the Danish Prince's bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished up their shifts and the lights were being switched off
Lecturas claimed the pair did not emerge from the restaurant until 1am, when they walked out on to the street and got in a car. In a 'gesture of courtesy', Crown Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion
The pair are seen in their car home from the restaurant. Frederik appeared to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket
Next day, the magazine claims the heir to the Danish throne was taken to the airport via car where he flew home to Denmark. Crown Prince Frederik Of Denmark is seen alone the next day
Crown Prince Frederik is seen heading off at 8.30am the next day in a black coat and trainers
Spanish magazine Lecturas reported that, during their night out, Frederik - who is a fourth cousin of King Charles - and Genoveva visited a Pablo Picasso exhibition, walked through El Retiro Park and later went out for dinner.
At around 7pm, Lecturas claimed both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately, and both re-emerged at around 9pm, two hours later, both having changed their clothes into evening wear.
In the photos, Genoveva had ditched her chic camel coat with a tie belt in favour of a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders.
Meanwhile Frederik appeared to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket. Again, they were reported to have emerged from the building separately, but got into the same white car.
The magazine claimed the pair watched a flamenco performance at a Spanish restaurant, El Corral de la Moreria, which finished at midnight.
It also claimed they remained at their table, which had been flanked by two of the Danish Prince's bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished up their shifts and the lights were being switched off.
Lecturas claimed the pair did not emerge from the restaurant until 1am, when they walked out onto the street and got in a car.
In a 'gesture of courtesy', Lecturas reports Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion.
The next day, the magazine claims the heir to the Danish throne was taken to the airport via car where he flew home to Denmark.
Publication of the pictures in
