In Greenland, many people were watching the new king of Denmark taking the throne, but younger generations who dream of independence have mixed feelings about the royal family. On Sunday, King Frederik X succeeded his mother, Queen Margrethe II, becoming the head of state in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
Despite strained relations with Denmark, the royal family remains popular in Greenland. In Nuuk, the capital, a cultural center organized a big screen viewing that was attended by jubilant Greenlanders.
Qupanuk Olsen, a 38-year-old Greenland native living in Nuuk, said, “I feel like I’m standing outside a bubble looking in at a lot of Greenlanders cheering and being extremely happy and proud that Frederik has become king.”
Greenland, which was a Danish colony until 1953, was granted autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence. An independence movement has gained traction, in part due to revelations of misconduct by Danish authorities, including a 1950s experiment in which children from Greenland were taken to Denmark. Last year, Greenland’s government presented its first draft constitution.
Sasha Blidorf, a 23-year-old owner of a jewelry firm in Greenland, mentioned, “Some are dissatisfied with many things that Denmark have done, but they still like the royal family. It’s a bit of a double standard.”
Traditionally, the royal family makes visits to the Arctic island each year, often disembarking their royal yacht wearing Greenland’s national dress, which has contributed to their popularity among the people.
Michael Bregnsbo, a historian at the University of Southern Denmark, stated, “The royal family has stayed above the political opposition and helped keep the kingdom together.”
King Frederik has spent extended periods of time in Greenland, including a four-month expedition on the ice sheet. Bregnsbo suggested, “He knows Greenland well, which should help him continue to be a unifying figure. This is something the new royal couple should give high priority to.”
Qupanuk Olsen expressed her desire for Greenland to be independent in the future, saying, “I can’t see the king remaining the head of state over Greenland in the future. I want us to have our own president.”
(Reporting by Johannes Birkebaek; editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Nick Macfie)
