He had visited Japan many times before. However, this was King Frederik’s first visit to the country as monarch — and he brought along a sense of shame. During his three-day stay, he faced an event that must have stirred memories of a major mistake from his youth.
It was his inaugural visit as the reigning monarch of Denmark, and King Frederik, 56, dedicated three full days to it. He had previously traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun several times. One of those visits left a lasting impression — but not a particularly positive one. Back then, he was Denmark’s crown prince and still a teenager, perhaps a little green behind the ears. That’s likely the only explanation for why a single interview managed to cause mild bewilderment — and, more bluntly, outright outrage.
King Frederik Returns to His Personal Place of Shame
Thirty-seven years have passed since that memorable stay in Japan. In recent days, Frederik returned, this time for the first time as King. From April 23 to April 25, 2025, he introduced himself as monarch and had the opportunity to make new discoveries. On his third and final day, the alarm clock rang early. At 7:20 AM local time, the King took part in a morning hike — a moment to breathe before the next item on the agenda, which likely stirred discomfort not only in him.
After the brief excursion, a commemorative ceremony was scheduled, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Accompanied by Kazumi Matsui, the Mayor of Hiroshima, the King laid a wreath at a memorial in the city. The ribbon read, “Frederik X The King of Denmark.” The wreath, adorned with white orchids, was flanked by ribbons in the red and white tones of Denmark’s Dannebrog flag. This time, the visit to Hiroshima went off without a hitch — quite unlike the events of 1987.
The Young Frederik Put His Foot in His Mouth
When the then 19-year-old Frederik visited Japan, he caused a stir with an interview. Was it a lack of experience or simply too little sleep? When a court reporter from Danish broadcaster “DR” asked him what Hiroshima would mean to a young man of 20, the crown prince responded with words that were far from sensitively phrased. “For me, the horrors of war are over,” the young royal said, apparently without much reflection. “As a new generation, you cannot take into account what happened in the past. It is the impression of the present that shapes me.”
And he added that the impression had been a good one — making matters worse when the reporter, giving him a second chance by asking about his visit to the museum, received this response: “Yes, that is something you absolutely should experience when you come to Hiroshima. But it’s not something that gives you nightmares or something you will brood over for the rest of your life,” the then-crown prince said. In short, Queen Margrethe’s son, now 85, came across as indifferent to the devastating American atomic bombings of 1945, which claimed around 100,000 lives.
A Sensitive Appearance
On April 24, 2025, Frederik once again visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the aftermath of the attack. This time, the King demonstrated sensitivity. “It is a fascinating country and a fascinating society, and as far as I can remember, I am here for the eighth or ninth time,” he said, referencing his previous visit but without addressing his unfortunate remarks directly: “The first time I came here was in 1987 as a very young man, when I was asked to travel with a small delegation. I experienced many exciting things in the various cities, including here in Hiroshima.”
The Danish monarch went on to praise Japan as a progressive nation that still honors its history. “There is, of course, a lot of history, but you also see a society that is highly industrialized and civilized, while still preserving its traditions with temples and aspects of Japanese culture that date back thousands of years.”
King Frederik has clearly learned from the mistakes of his younger, more careless self. Today — even more so than back then — all eyes are on him, and every word he utters is weighed carefully. Careless statements are no longer an option. It’s safe to assume that during this visit to Japan, he was keenly aware of the shame of his earlier remarks — but also of the fact that youthful indifference has long since been replaced by a deeper understanding of the horrors of history.
