The Act of Succession of 27 March 1953 (Danish: tronfølgeloven) is an act adopted after a 1953 referendum in Denmark and dictates the rules governing the succession to the Danish throne. The 1953 referendum changed the act so that it became possible for a woman to inherit the throne if she has no brothers, a system known as male-preference cognatic preference primogeniture. As the reigning King Frederik IX had three daughters and no sons, this made Princess Margrethe heiress presumptive to the throne, replacing her uncle Prince Knud. As Frederik IX's wife Queen Ingrid was not expected to (and did not) have any more children, this effectively ensured that Princess Margrethe would become Queen of Denmark, which she did in 1972. The act also removed the succession rights of minor members of the House of Glücksburg.
Following a referendum in 2009, the Act of Succession was amended so that primogeniture no longer puts males over females, meaning the first-born child would become heir apparent to the throne regardless of sex. The expected result of the referendum was on the balance, since 40% of the entire electorate had to vote yes in order to make the change. However, the succession amendment was confirmed by a larger turnout especially in rural areas. The change of the act had no effect on the expected line of succession at the time, but it does affect the line of succession among King Frederik X's younger children, putting Princess Isabella (who was born in 2007) ahead of her younger brother Prince Vincent (born in 2011).
Danish succession – DW – 06/08/2009
Royal Succession in Denmark: Margrethe II's Farewell and Frederik X's ...
Succession to the Danish throne - Wikiwand
Intestate Succession - SchoemanLaw Inc
Denmark, who is the new King and what succession means - Pledge Times
The new line of succession in Denmark - Royal Central
The Denmark royal family and its new line of succession
The Denmark royal family and its new line of succession
Frederik X Crowned as the New King of Denmark: Historic Succession in ...
Denmark’s Constitutional act | The International Denmark
The line of succession to the Danish throne - Royal Central
