Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark has taken on some monarchical duties while his mother was away with medical issues.
Crown Prince Frederik started serving as Queen Margrethe II’s regent on Tuesday, 21 February, while she has been unable to carry out her regular duties.
On Wednesday, 22 February, the Crown Prince received several ambassadors while serving as regent. Frederik received credentials for the new Tanzanian, Maltese, Bolivian, and Bahraini ambassadors to Denmark.
Historically ambassadors would present a Letter of Credence, an official document that designates that person to serve as their country’s representative in another sovereign, to the head of state in an official ceremony.
Frederik will serve in the role of Regent until Saturday, 25 February. Then he and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, will be leaving for a tour to India. The couple will officially represent Denmark in India from Sunday, 26 February, through Wednesday, 1 March, and their itinerary includes visiting the Taj Mahal.
With the Crown Prince leaving, Princess Benedikte will represent Margrethe until Frederik returns. She is The Queen’s younger sister and often carries out royal duties on behalf of her sister.
Last week, the Danish Royal Family shared the news that Queen Margrethe would be undergoing back surgery.
On Wednesday, the Royal Court shared on social media that Margrethe had “undergone extensive back surgery at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. The surgery went as planned and the Queen’s condition is good and stable according to the circumstances.
“The Queen will continue to be hospitalised at the State Hospital in the near future, and afterwards awaits a longer period of recovery and rehabilitation of the back.”
Margrethe is not the only monarch currently undergoing surgery.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden underwent heart surgery this week. He will also be recuperating over the next weeks like his first cousin.
