Final answer:
The people of Denmark rally around Laertes upon his return from France, seeing him as a potential king and leader.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Laertes returns from France, the people of Denmark rally around him, proclaiming that they would like him to be their king. This is in contrast to some of the other options presented, where Laertes could be mistaken for Hamlet or ignored.
The population's support for Laertes indicates the potential for conflict and their desire for strong leadership amidst the turmoil of the royal court.
When Laertes returns from France, the people of Denmark do not mistake him for Hamlet and punish him for Polonius's murder, as option A suggests.
They also do not ignore him because he's a low-ranking aristocrat, as option B suggests. Option C is also incorrect because the people of Denmark do not turn against Laertes to show their loyalty to Claudius. Instead, option D is the correct answer. When Laertes returns, the people rally around him and proclaim that they would like him to be their king.