“Denmark reacts to Trump’s ambitions for Greenland by changing the royal coat of arms January 7, 02:30 Share: Updated coat of arms of Denmark (Photo: Kongehuset.dk) Denmark has updated the royal coat of arms, making the symbols of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent. The move shows a desire to maintain control over the autonomous territories, which Donald Trump has said he would like to see as part of the United States. This was reported by The Guardian. Less than a year later”, — write on: ua.news
The updated coat of arms of Denmark (Photo: Kongehuset.dk)
Denmark has updated its royal coat of arms, making the symbols of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent. The move shows a desire to maintain control over the autonomous territories, which Donald Trump has said he would like to see as part of the United States.
This is reported by The Guardian.
Less than a year after Frederik X succeeded his mother, Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in 2023, the new monarch has made clear the importance of keeping Greenland and the Faroe Islands part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
For 500 years, three crowns were present on the coats of arms of the Danish monarchs – a symbol of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1397−1523). However, in the updated coat of arms, the crowns were replaced by more pronounced symbols: a polar bear, representing Greenland, and a ram, a symbol of the Faroe Islands.
Context of coat of arms changes
The change of coat of arms took place against the background of tensions in relations between Denmark and Greenland. Greenland remains an autonomous territory, but its foreign policy and security are controlled by Denmark.
At the same time, Donald Trump has repeatedly stated the desire of the United States to acquire Greenland. In addition, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede recently accused Denmark of genocide over the forced contraception scandal of the 1960s and 1970s. In his New Year’s address, Egede again called for the independence of the island.
The Royal House of Denmark noted that the new coat of arms, which is used on official documents and seals, emphasizes the importance of unity within the Commonwealth. Frederick X explained that the three crowns were no longer relevant, so they were removed.
According to him, the changes to the coat of arms were made on the recommendation of a special committee formed after the accession of Frederick X to the throne on January 14, 2024.
In his first New Year’s address, the king emphasized:
“We are all one, and each one of us is loyal to the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig, which is even outside the kingdom, and all the way to Greenland. We belong to each other,” he said.
The Guardian notes that Denmark’s royal coat of arms has changed three times since 1819: in 1903, 1948 and 1972. This change was another step towards the modernization of the symbols of the Kingdom of Denmark, taking into account modern political and cultural realities.