Monarchy of Denmark

The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutionalinstitution of the Danish Realm, which comprises Denmark proper and the autonomous overseas territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, being the system by which a reigns as the realm's head of state. The current monarch is King Frederik X, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II, on 14 January 2024.

A Danish monarchy was already consolidated in the 8th century, whose rulers are consistently referred to in Frankish sources (and in some late Frisian sources) as "kings" (). Under the rule of King Gudfred in 804 it may have included all the major provinces of medieval Denmark. The current Danish realm was founded or re-united by the Viking kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century. Originally an elective monarchy, it became only in the 17th century during the reign of Frederick III. A decisive transition to a constitutional monarchy occurred in 1849 with the writing of the first democratic constitution, replacing the vast majority of the old absolutist constitution.

The current royal house is a branch of the ducal House of Glücksburg, originally from Schleswig-Holstein in modern-day Germany, the House of Glücksburg itself being a collateral branch of the House of Oldenburg; since 2024, the monarch is also an agnatic descendant of the French de Laborde de Monpezat family. The House of Glücksburg has also produced monarchs of Norway, of the United Kingdom and of the former Kingdom of Greece in the direct male line. Danish regnal names have traditionally (since 1513) alternated between "Frederik" (anglicised to Frederick) and "Christian". Accordingly, Frederik's heir apparent is Crown Prince Christian.

The Danish monarchy is constitutional and as such, the role of the monarch is defined and limited by the Constitution of Denmark. According to the constitution, the ultimate executive authority over the government of Denmark is still by and through the monarch's royal reserve powers; in practice these powers are only used according to laws enacted in Parliament or within the constraints of convention. The monarch is, in practice, limited to non-partisan functions such as bestowing honours and formally appointing the prime minister. The monarch and their immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic and representational duties.