| Frederick X | |
|---|---|
| |
| King of Denmark | |
| Reign | 6 April, 1985 – present |
| Predecessor | Margrethe II |
| Heir apparent | Crown Prince Christian |
| Born | 26 May, 1968 Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark |
| Spouse | Mary Donaldson |
| Issue | Crown Prince Christian Princess Isabella Prince Vincent Princess Josephine |
| Full name | |
| Frederik André Henrik Christian | |
| House | Monpezat |
| Father | Henri de Laborde de Monpezat |
| Mother | Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark |
| Religion | Church of Denmark |
Frederick X (Frederik André Henrik Christian; born 26 May, 1968) is the King of Denmark. He is also the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Defence. He was born into the House of Monzepat, a noble family of French origin, as the eldest son of Queen Margrethe II, the first female monarch of Denmark since Margrethe I, ruler of the Scandinavian kingdoms in 1375–1412 during the Kalmar Union.
Frederick came to the throne of Denmark following the assassination of his parents in 1985 by a Swedish anarchist. The situation brought a state of war between the two Nordic countries, with Denmark claiming victory and annexing Scania and Öland. Following the war, Frederick personally funded the reconstruction of the city of Copenhagen, which was destroyed in the Nuclear War of 1962.
During the 1990's, Frederick traveled by train to Berlin on a mission of diplomacy. The King's wish was to maintain peace with Prussia, following the Danish annexation of the Mecklenburg region from East Germany in 1975. It was believed that Denmark could be at war again, and the King wished to avoid a military conflict. In 1994, it was agreed by both nations that the Mecklenburg province would have a referendum on the issue of sovereignty, and the majority voted for Danish sovereignty. The Prussians respected the result and gave up their claims over the territory.
In 2000, when relations were established with the Commonwealth of Australia, Frederick met a young accountant named Mary Donaldson. The two of them began dating and later became engaged. Their wedding took place on 14 May, 2004 at the reconstructed Copenhagen Cathedral in the reconstructed city of Copenhagen.
The couple has four children: Christian (born 15 October, 2005); Isabella (born 21 April, 2007), Vincent (born 8 January, 2011), and Josephine (born 8 January, 2011).