Two skilled tradespeople to receive royal handshake at Copenhagen ceremony

Seventy-two newly qualified tradespeople will be honoured at Copenhagen City Hall today with silver medals, traditional pancakes, and a handshake from King Frederik X, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Among the recipients are Peter Jensen Røhl, 28, a newly trained electrician, and Lee Rochester Sørensen, 32, a qualified hairdresser. Both described the royal recognition as a major honour, with Sørensen admitting he woke at 4 a.m. from excitement.

“You’re a little nervous when you’re about to shake the king’s hand,” Sørensen told DR. “It’s going to be huge.”

For Røhl, the ceremony carries deep family significance. He is the seventh generation of tradespeople in his family, and his grandfather received the same medal from Queen Ingrid in 1958 as a carpenter.

“I grew up hearing my grandfather’s story, so holding this same medal means a lot,” Røhl said. “I’m incredibly proud to follow in his footsteps.”

Sørensen, a former professional footballer with clubs including Lyngby BK and HB Køge, transitioned into hairdressing after his sports career wound down. His mother owns a salon in Lyngby, where he now works.

“When football started to fade, my passion for something else grew,” he explained.

The event, organised by the 150-year-old Craftsmen’s Association, also involves Copenhagen’s two largest vocational colleges, TEC and NEXT, which trained many of the medal recipients.

Both Røhl and Sørensen said they were most looking forward to the royal handshake, calling it “a big moment.”