Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan. 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik, she announced on Sunday.
Quick Read
- Queen Margrethe II’s Abdication: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the longest-serving monarch in Europe, announced her abdication on January 14, 2024, after 52 years of reign.
- Announcement During New Year’s Speech: The queen revealed her decision to step down during her traditional New Year’s Eve speech, which is a significant event in Denmark.
- Reason for Abdication: The 83-year-old queen cited her recent successful back surgery as a factor in considering the future and deciding to pass the responsibility to the next generation.
- Succession by Crown Prince Frederik: Her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will ascend the throne, becoming King Frederik X.
- Queen’s Long Service: Queen Margrethe II ascended the throne in 1972 and became Europe’s longest-reigning monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. She is also the longest-sitting monarch in Denmark’s history.
- Role of the Monarch in Denmark: In Denmark, the monarch holds a ceremonial role and is expected to remain above partisan politics, engaging in traditional duties and representing the nation.
- Danish Prime Minister’s Reaction: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed her appreciation for the queen’s lifelong dedication and noted the impact of the impending change on Danes, many of whom have never known another monarch.
- Queen Margrethe’s Background: Born in 1940, Queen Margrethe became heir to the throne in 1953 following a constitutional change. She married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967, who was her consort until his death in 2018.
- Queen’s Personal Interests: Known for her creative and tactful personality, Queen Margrethe has a passion for archaeology and has participated in various excavations.
- Crown Prince Frederik’s Background: Crown Prince Frederik, who will succeed his mother, is married to Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian, since 2004.
Reuters has the story:
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II announces surprise abdication on live TV
Newslooks- COPENHAGEN, Dec 31 (Reuters)
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan. 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik, she announced on Sunday.
The 83-year-old queen, who ascended the throne in 1972, made the surprise announcement on live TV during her traditional New Year’s Eve speech, which is viewed by many in the country of 5.9 million people.
Referring to a successful back operation she underwent in February, she said, “The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation”.
“I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as queen of Denmark,” she said.
“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” she said.
The queen became the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In July, she became the longest-sitting monarch in Denmark’s history.
In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above partisan politics, representing the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked the queen for her life-long dedication to duty.
“It is still difficult to understand that the time has now come for a change of throne,” Frederiksen said in a statement, adding that many Danes had never known another monarch.
“Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation,” she said.
Born in 1940 to Denmark’s former monarch King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality.
She is also known for her love of archaeology and has taken part in several excavations.
She became heir to her father in 1953 at the age of 31, after a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne.
In 1967, she married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, who served as her royal consort until his death in 2018.
The couple’s two sons are Crown Prince Frederik, who will become King Frederik X, and Prince Joachim. Frederik married Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian, in 2004.
