What does King Christian X stand for or symbolize for Annemarie and her fellow Danes in Number the Stars?

From the text:

How the people of Denmark loved King Christian! He was not like fairy tale kings, who seemed to stand on balconies giving orders to subjects, or who sat on golden thrones demanding to be entertained and looking for suitable husbands for their daughters. King Christian was a real human being, a man with a serious, kind face.

Papa thought for a moment. He always considered questions very carefully before he answered them . "Yes," he said at last. "It is true. Any Danish citizen would die for King Christian, to protect him ."