Denmark’s backing for new king: Survey taken days before Queen Margrethe’s dramatic abdication revealed over 80% of population had a positive opinion of scandal-hit Crown Prince Frederik

A survey conducted just days before the surprise announcement of Danish Queen Margrethe's abdication found the country was overwhelmingly happy with her scandal-hit successor, Prince Frederik.

She revealed that she will step down on January 14 next year after 52 years on the throne, she announced during her traditional New Year's Eve speech.

The queen, famous for her chain smoking and her flamboyant sense of style, will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.

The 83-year-old queen, who took the throne in 1972, is the longest-serving monarch in Europe after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

A poll conducted by Epinion found that 84% had a positive view of the future king, while 85% had a high regard for his wife, Crown Princess Mary.

Only four percent of respondents had a negative opinion of Maria, while only six percent disliked Prince Frederik.

The 83-year-old queen, who took the throne in 1972, is the longest-serving monarch in Europe after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

The Danish royal family is incredibly loved in the country. The survey shows that 70% of Danes would like to continue having one, while only 17% say they want to get rid of it.

The Royals' positive views come despite Frederik being embroiled in several scandals in recent years.

Just a few weeks ago, Frederik made headlines when he was photographed on a night out in Madrid with a Mexican socialite, sparking rumors of an alleged 'affair'.

Spanish magazine Lecturas reported that during their night out, Frederick – a fourth cousin of King Charles – and Genoveva visited a Pablo Picasso exhibition, walked through El Retiro Park and later went out for dinner.

Around 7 p.m., Lecturas claimed that both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately, and both emerged around 9 p.m., two hours later, after both changed their clothes to evening wear.

In the photos, Genoveva had swapped her chic camel coat with a tie belt for a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Frederik seemed to have changed from a navy blue jacket and brown trousers to a white shirt and dark trousers with a neat dark jacket. Again, they are said to have come out of the building separately, but got into the same white car.

Between raising her children and appearing at diplomatic events, Mary (pictured with her husband) has worked tirelessly to prove her commitment to charity. Since her marriage to Frederik in 2004, she has become patron of more than 25 international organizations.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (left) has been given the right to act as regent in place of her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe (right) when the monarch is otherwise engaged

Photos of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Genoveva Casanova during a night out in Madrid without his wife Crown Princess Mary appeared in October. Photos taken throughout the day showed the couple taking a stroll through El Retiro Park

The magazine claimed the pair had seen a flamenco performance at a Spanish restaurant, El Corral de la Moreria, which ended at midnight.

It was also claimed that they remained seated at their table, which was flanked by two of the Danish prince's bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished their shifts and the lights were switched off.

Lecturas claimed the pair didn't leave the restaurant until 1 a.m., when they walked out onto the street and got into a car.

As a 'gesture of courtesy', Lecturas reports that Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion.

The magazine claims that the next day the heir to the Danish throne was taken by car to the airport, where he flew to Denmark.

The publication of the photos in Lecturas prompted the divorced Mexican socialite to issue a statement “categorically” denying any suggestion that the pair were in a romantic relationship, which according to Hola! called 'evil' and untrue.

Lecturas claimed that both Frederik and Genoveva went separately to her apartment building around 7 p.m. Genoveva, wearing jeans and a brown jacket, is seen entering her apartment building

Frederik is seen leaving Genoveva's apartment complex before going to dinner. It looks like he has changed from a navy blue jacket and brown trousers to a white shirt and dark trousers with a neat dark jacket

The Crown Prince is pictured entering Genoveva's apartment complex to change after a walk in the park around 7 p.m.

The pair appeared to be on their way to a flamenco show at the Corral de la Morería in Madrid. They are photographed outside the location around 1am. The magazine claimed the pair remained seated at their table, which was flanked by two of the Danish prince's bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished their shifts and the lights were switched off.

The socialite wrote: 'I categorically deny the statements that indicate a romantic relationship between Prince Frederik and me.'

She added: “Any statement of this type not only completely lacks the truth, but also maliciously misrepresents the facts.

“This is already in the hands of my lawyers, who will take care of the relevant steps to protect my rights to honor, truth and privacy.”

Since the photos emerged, Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the pair have made public appearances together.

However, in one instance after the photos were published, body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Mary looked “disengaged” as she joined the Spanish king and queen in Copenhagen in November.

Her husband, meanwhile, appeared 'hesitant' towards his wife during an outing with King Felipe and Queen Letizia during their visit to Denmark.

The couple presented a united front as they performed at Aarhus Cathedral on Christmas Eve with their children, before heading to Marselisborg Castle with Queen Margrethe for Christmas Day.

Margrethe said in her abdication announcement on New Year's Eve that a recent operation had forced her to reconsider her work, telling her country: “The operation naturally gave rise to reflection on the future – whether it was time to pass the responsibility on to the next generation .'

In Denmark, formal power lies with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above party politics and represent the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national holiday celebrations.