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Has been updated: January 1, 2024 05:01 IST
copenhagen [Denmark]January 1 (ANI): Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, who has been in power for more than 50 years, has unexpectedly announced that she will step down in early 2024, according to CNN.
In her annual New Year’s Eve speech broadcast on Danish television, 83-year-old Margrethe announced that she would hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
She cited the hip surgery she underwent in February 2023 as an example of her beliefs about the future.
“In two weeks, I will have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Something like this will leave its mark on everyone, and on me too! The more time passes, the more damage is done. And the number of ‘sicknesses’ will increase. People can’t take it.” According to CNN, it was about as much as the queen had managed to do in the past.
The Queen of Denmark said she underwent “major back surgery” in February this year, adding: “Everything went well thanks to the talented medical professionals who cared for me and made the surgery inevitable.” This gave me an opportunity to think about the future, and I think now is the right time to hand over that responsibility to the next generation.”
“We decided now was the right time,” she said.
According to CNN, the Queen announced: “I will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, 52 years after succeeding my beloved father. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”
After the death of King Frederik IX on January 14, 1972, Queen Margrethe II ascended the throne.
Following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II the previous year, Queen Margrethe assumed the title of Europe’s longest-reigning queen. (Ani)