Danish royal couple visits minority community in Southern Schleswig

Today, the distance between Copenhagen and Southern Schleswig shortens as the Danish royal couple visits the Danish minority in the region. This visit occurs less than a year after King Frederik and Queen Mary ascended the throne following Queen Margrethe’s abdication in January after 52 years of reign.

For the Danish minority south of the border, the royal couple’s prioritization of this visit holds significant value, according to Bo Sösemann, who grew up within the minority and chairs the Youth Association of the Border Society. “When they choose to visit, it makes you feel more secure in your role as a minority Dane,” he said, emphasizing the reassurance this brings to the community.

The significance of a visit from the king and queen cannot be understated, according to Sösemann. “There isn’t anyone higher who can come and say, ‘Great to have you here.’ This holds immense importance.” The last visit from the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig occurred in September 2019 when Queen Margrethe arrived aboard the royal ship Dannebrog at Flensburg Harbor.

Historically, royal visits to the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig have been infrequent, with the first occasion being in 1978 after 114 years without any official royal visits. Queen Margrethe first visited in 1978, opened A.P. Møller School in 2008, and returned in 2019 to commemorate the centenary of reunification.

This visit marks the royal couple’s first official trip to Germany, following their inaugural visit to Berlin. Gitte Hougaard-Werner, chair of the umbrella organization for the minority, points out that this visit helps the king connect with the minority community, reinforcing a continuity of recognition and support. The royal couple’s itinerary includes stops at the Danevirke Museum in Schleswig and Flensborghus in Flensburg, where community representatives will have the opportunity to engage with them directly.