The Royal Family has made a significant reduction in the number of patronages in connection with the succession to the throne on January 14. Previously, the royal family had 258 patronages, but 116 of these will not be continued. Now, the number of patronages is down to 140, according to a press release from the Royal House. King Frederik has taken over 14 patronages from Queen Margrethe, several of which have historical ties to the royal family. He has also taken on six new patronages and retains eight of his previous ones, which means he now holds a total of 28 patronages, down from 33. Among his new patronages are the North Atlantic House in Odense, the Danish Architecture Centre, and The Copenhagen Climate Ministerial.
Queen Margrethe continues with 20 of her previous 81 patronages, primarily in the fields of art, history, and archaeology. Queen Mary has taken over three patronages from Queen Margrethe and continues 16 of her previous ones. She has also taken on five new patronages, including Danish Hospital Clowns and The Danish Nature Fund, giving her a total of 24 patronages, down from 31. The succession has also led to a reassessment of the patronages previously held by Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and Princess Benedikte. This is done to ensure that the royals can focus on their other duties and engage with their selected patronages.
The royal couple expresses pride in continuing and shaping the tradition of patronages. They aim to support initiatives that promote Danish culture, science, and entrepreneurship, protect nature, give a voice to the vulnerable in society, and create communities. In the future, the Royal House’s patronages will be limited to five years, after which associations and organizations must apply for an extension. This allows the royals to continuously take on new patronages in line with societal development.