Christian's Fall

A Scandinavian monarch is greeted by his subjects with no servility, no boot-licking but with the affectionate bonhomie that a Protestant layman might show to an amiable Bishop of his sect. Last week Denmark's giant-tall King Christian X, on one of his daily horseback jaunts through Copenhagen's busiest streets, was not surprised when a passing truck driver waved him a cheery salute. Back waved King Christian, and at that moment his horse, young and excitable, suddenly reared, fell down. Beneath the horse one of the King's legs was pinioned and anxious bystanders rushed to help. With a tight-lipped grin King Christian remounted, rode back to Amalienborg Castle as though nothing had happened. That evening, none the worse for his fall, he entertained at dinner.

Even in 1920, when there sprang up in Denmark a campaign to overthrow the monarchy, set up a Republic, King Christian continued to ride through excited crowds in Copenhagen's streets. The movement came to nothing because the most rabid Republicans decided that popular King Christian would be the only possible President, concluded they might as well retain him as King. On May 14, two days after George VI's Coronation in London, comes the Silver Jubilee of Christian X. Representing Denmark at Westminster Abbey will be Crown Prince Frederik, who will then fly back by specially chartered plane to Copenhagen in time for his father's celebration.

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