queen margrethe ii She will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, on Sunday, becoming the first Danish monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years. During his 52-year reign, Margrethe always insisted he would not step down, but his back surgery and other illnesses have left him unable to do the things he used to. “The time it takes takes its toll on her,” she said. announce her plans He abdicated in a New Year’s address that surprised the kingdom.
For centuries, before the democratic era of constitutional monarchy, a monarch was far more likely to die of disease or violence than hand over the title of real power.
But as average lifespans continue to grow longer, even a schedule of symbolic duties can become exhausting in a monarch’s later years.british queen elizabeth ii As a young woman, she took the reigns 70 years ago, determined to dedicate her life to service. die on the throne He will be 96 years old in 2022.
“Abdication is becoming more common because the population is getting older,” said Lars Hofbakke Sørensen, a Danish historian and lecturer. “Therefore, Europe has more older monarchs and (therefore) older crown princes and crown princesses.”
He cited the UK as an example. king charles iii He succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth, after her death at the age of 74.
Here are some monarchs who have passed the throne to younger, more energetic successors in recent years.
Akihito of Japan
Emperor Akihito He decided to abdicate in 2019 at the age of 85 and hand over the throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, citing age and declining health. It was the first time in two centuries that Japan had abdicated.
Akihito has dedicated his 30-year reign to making amends for the wars fought in his father’s name while bringing the isolated monarchy closer to its people. His era was the first in Japan’s modern history to be without war.
Mr. Akihito years ago expressed his desire to abdicate while he was still fit and capable, preparing his people for that step. He won overwhelming public support for stepping down from a symbolic role without actual political power, and the people celebrated his accession to the throne.
The Emperor is 90 years old.
Juan Carlos of Spain
Juan Carlos I, now 86 years old, abdicated in disgrace in 2014. He was once so popular that many Spaniards said, “We are not monarchists, we are Juan Carlistos.” Those who remember him from his youth recall the important role he played in ensuring Spain’s safe transition from the decades-long dictatorship of Francisco Franco to its modern constitutional monarchy. .
it helped flexible press It covered up his long history of infidelity and indiscretions.
His relationship with the Spanish public began to crack in 2012. The former World Wide Fund for Nature patron was injured on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana at a time when his native population was experiencing a full-blown economic crisis.
Some Spaniards began to wonder if the time had come for Spain to establish its third republic in the past 150 years.
Juan Carlos left Spain in August 2020 amid an ongoing investigation into his involvement in alleged financial misconduct. Spanish prosecutors are forced to shelve the case after concluding that the alleged fraud, which involved millions of euros in undeclared accounts, occurred while Juan Carlos had legal privileges as king. lost.
His actions were widely seen as a public disgrace that tarnished the royal family, and King Felipe has sought to restore the Bourbon family’s reputation.Felipe renounced his inheritance In 2020, in a landmark move to distance himself from his father, he stripped Juan Carlos of state-provided subsidies.
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands might be like that. started a trend The royal family was set to retire when she announced her abdication in 2013, just before turning 75 after a 33-year reign. In explaining her decision to hand over her throne to her son King Willem-Alexander, she said she believed it was time to hand over her responsibilities to a new generation.
Beatrix’s abdication was quickly followed by King Albert II of Belgium, followed shortly thereafter by Juan Carlos of Spain.
Abdication is common in the House of Orange, which advocates egalitarianism. Beatrix’s mother, Juliana, and her mother’s mother, Wilhelmina, all retired and settled into retirement.
King Albert II of Belgium
Three months after Beatrix’s abdication, Albert II decided to pass the throne of his troubled kingdom to his son Philip. Albert, 79 years old said his age And due to health, he was no longer able to fulfill all his duties.
The 2013 measures ended nearly two decades of stable rule over the country, which is divided into Dutch-speaking northern Flanders and French-speaking southern Wallonia.
He was the first king to voluntarily abdicate since Belgium gained independence in 1830.
Before his abdication, several years after his abdication, Albert II fought rumors that he had fathered a daughter out of wedlock. he recognized Formerly known as his daughter Delphine Boel, the artist became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Delphine.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar He was also one of the members of the royal family who stepped down in 2013 and handed over power to his fourth son.
The 61-year-old stressed the importance of shifting leadership to younger people. The move was seen as an indirect endorsement of the reform demands put forward by the government. arab springwhich began in 2011 with the successful revolutions that ousted the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, and spread throughout the Arab world.
His decision to retire went against the tradition of other ruling dynasties in the Gulf relinquishing power through death or palace coups.
pope benedict
Pope Benedict XVI In 2013, he became the first pope in 600 years to abdicate, shocking the Catholic world. Although he was not a king, the pope has royal robes and many other accoutrements, and has more real power than many monarchs in the world today.
When Benedict took the step at age 85, he cited declining health due to age. He lived another 10 years. passed away exactly one year ago At 95 years old.
Benedict chose February 11, 2013, a Vatican holiday when audiences with cardinals are regularly held, to make the historic announcement in Latin that he would be the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. Ta.
He nearly fulfilled his promise to spend the rest of his life in prayer and meditation in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens.