It was live and on television, in the traditional end-of-year message, that Queen Margaret II informed the Danes that she would abdicate the throne after 52 years. The monarch will abdicate on January 14, exactly 52 years since she became queen. “I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” announced the queen, who ascended the throne after the death of her father, King Frederick IX, in 1972.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, the 83-year-old queen is the longest-serving monarch in Europe. In her speech, she explained that the operation she underwent in February this year helped her think about the future and whether it was time to pass the responsibility to the next generation. “Tonight I would especially like to say thank you, thank you for the overwhelming support and affection I have received over the years,” said the monarch, who asked for “the same trust and affection” for the future king and for his wife, Princess Mary .
The Royal House of Denmark, unlike what happened in the British Royal House after the death of Elizabeth II, will not hold a formal coronation ceremony for the Crown Prince. Frederik is 55 years old and will be announced by the palace on the day the queen and mother abdicate from the Council of State, and will rule under the name Frederik X.
Born in 1940, Margaret II of Denmark is a popular figure and many Danes, who appreciated her diplomacy and creativity, expected her to remain on the throne until her death. Especially since she had already publicly stated that she had no intention of giving up the throne and that the status of queen was “a lifelong obligation.”
Last year he promoted a reduction in the number of royal members, which led to his grandchildren, the children of his youngest son and the future king’s brother, Prince Joakim, being stripped of their royal titles.
In addition to announcing that she will step down, the monarch spoke about the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as the importance of tackling the issue of climate change.
In Denmark, formal power rests with the elected parliament and government, and the Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has already thanked the Queen in a statement for “her lifelong dedication and tireless work on behalf of Denmark”.
Source: DN
