As Denmark takes over the presidency of the European Union Council, King Frederik and Queen Mary—accompanied by a surprise guest—were at the forefront of events to mark their country’s assumption.
According to the Danish Presidency Council of the European Union’s website, the country has two goals for its term: “A secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe.”
The royal couple traveled to Aarhus for a day of engagements.
In the morning, King Frederik and Queen Mary with current EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the ARoS Art Museum. They toured the rainbow panorama exhibit ‘Your Rainbow Panorama’ on the roof level of the art museum, which had been designed by Olafur Eliasson, an Danish-Icelandic artist.
Later, King Frederik met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Marselisborg Palace. The Ukrainian President was in the country to help celebrate Denmark’s EU presidency.
President Zelenskyy wrote on X: “I am grateful to Denmark and the Danish people for supporting Ukraine from the very beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression–for military and humanitarian assistance, the development of joint defense production, and investment in Ukraine’s defense industry.
“During the audience with King Frederik X of Denmark, we discussed patronage of war-affected regions, cooperation in military medicine, and veteran support projects. I invited Danish companies to participate in joint projects in the fields of prosthetics and rehabilitation.”
President Zelenskyy was invited to speak at an event for Denmark’s EU Council start, where he wrote that “I stressed the need for a strong and united EU, transatlantic cooperation, and biting sanctions on Russia to advance peace.”
Later in the day, King Frederik and Queen Mary hosted a reception aboard the Dannebrog. Among the dignitaries were President Zelenskyy and guests from the Danish government, the Faroe Islands government, the Icelandic government, the European Union and the European Commission.
To end the day’s festivities, King Frederik and Queen Mary attended a dinner reception at Aarhus Town Hall.
The European Union Council changes every six months and rotates between member states, allowing each country a term every 13-and-a-half years.
A trio is chosen for every year, and in 2025 and the first half of 2026 these countries are Poland (January-June 2025), Denmark (July-December 2025) and Cyprus (January-June 2026). Denmark last held the post in the first half of 2012.
