The royal couple’s first official visit to Greenland could potentially dampen the separatist sentiment present in the self-governing territory, historians assess. Over the course of eight days, King Frederik and Queen Mary will visit various parts of Greenland on their first official trip to the self-governing region with their new royal titles. The visit kicks off on Saturday, where King Frederik began and ended his Sirius Expedition 24 years ago in Qaanaaq, the northernmost town in Greenland. The couple will travel around Greenland and visit several towns, settlements, and islands.
Highlights include a race inspired by Royal Run. On Sunday afternoon, King Frederik will launch the “Qeqertarsuaq Race, Family Mile” for all residents of Qeqertarsuaq. The journey takes place aboard the royal yacht “Dannebrog,” which will sail the couple from place to place. It is expected that the Greenlandic people will welcome the royal couple with great joy and festivities. Despite discussions about separatism and Danish sovereignty, the royal family has historically been seen as a positive force in Greenland.
Lecturer Karen Thisted from the University of Copenhagen, who focuses on Greenland, points out that Greenlanders traditionally have not associated the king with the Danish state. “The monarchy has been seen as separate from the colonizing state,” she says. Historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen adds that there has always been a close relationship between the Greenlandic people and the Danish royal family. “The royal family is something that Greenlanders appreciate about the realm,” he says.
According to Sørensen, the royal family can help dampen the separatist sentiment among Greenlanders. King Frederik has already gained great popularity among the Greenlandic people, especially after his time with the Sirius Expedition. “He has proven that he can live the Greenlandic life,” notes Kirsten Thisted. In an interview with the Greenlandic media Sermitsiaq, King Frederik stated that his time in Greenland has taught him to live in harmony with nature. “Greenlanders respect nature and follow its rhythms,” he said. The royal couple also expressed great joy about the upcoming visit and emphasized that these visits confirm their connection to the realm.
The royal couple’s visit extends from Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, July 6.