Denmark's King Frederik has altered the royal coat of arms, replacing the traditional three crowns with symbols representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands. This symbolic shift is viewed as a direct response to US President-elect Donald Trump's expressed desire to acquire Greenland.
The change, announced in early 2025, removes the three crowns, representing the now-dissolved Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and introduces the polar bear and ram, signifying Greenland and the Faroe Islands respectively. These symbols were previously less prominent in the coat of arms.
The royal household's rationale for the change is that the three crowns are no longer relevant. King Frederik reinforced this stance in a recent speech, emphasizing the unity of the Danish kingdom, from the South Schleswig minority to Greenland.
This action underscores the Danish monarchy's commitment to maintaining control over Greenland's foreign and security policy. Trump's public interest in acquiring the territory has been met with staunch opposition from Greenland's prime minister, who firmly declared Greenland's independence and non-negotiable status.
This isn't the first time the royal coat of arms has been modified. The previous changes occurred in 1903, 1948, and 1972. Historically, Greenland has maintained close ties to Denmark and has never expressed a significant desire to join the United States, despite a limited American military presence.
In conclusion, the royal coat of arms' redesign reflects Denmark's firm stance against any potential US acquisition of Greenland, a move which has reverberated internationally.
