Frederick IX (Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg) (11 March 1899 – 14 January 1972) was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death. He was the son of King Christian X of Denmark and Queen Alexandrine, born Duchess of Mecklenburg.
Frederick was born in Sorgenfri, Isle of Seeland and educated at the Royal Danish Naval Academy (breaking Danish royal tradition by choosing a naval instead of an army career) and the University of Copenhagen. Before he became king, he had acquired the rank of Rear Admiral and he had had several senior commands on active service. In addition, with his great love of music, the king was an able piano player and conductor.
In 1922, Frederick was engaged to Princess Olga of Greece, his cousin and the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece; however they never wed. Instead, he married Princess Ingrid of Sweden (1910-2000, daughter of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, later King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden) in Stockholm on 24 May 1935. They were related in several ways. In descent from Oscar I of Sweden, they were third cousins. In descent from Paul I of Russia, Frederick was a fourth cousin of Ingrid's mother. They had three daughters:
When he had no sons, it was expected that his younger brother Knud would inherit the throne, in accordance with Denmark's succession law (Royal Ordinance of 1853). However, in 1953, an Act of Succession was passed, changing the method of succession to cognatic primogeniture, meaning that his eldest daughter, Margrethe, could succeed if he had no sons, which she did, as Queen Margrethe II.
Frederick's reign saw great change. During these years, Danish society shook off the restrictions of an agricultural society and developed a welfare state. And, as a consequence of the booming economy of the 1960s, women entered the labour market. In other words, Denmark became a modern country, which meant new demands on the monarchy.
Shortly after the king had delivered his New Year's Address to the Nation at the 1971/72 turn of the year, he fell ill. On his passing in Copenhagen in 1972, King Frederick IX was buried outside Roskilde Cathedral near Copenhagen. Previous rulers had been interred in the cathedral, but it was the King's wish to be buried outside.
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* lost his title of Prince of Denmark due to an unequal marriage
** Also a Prince of Greece |
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