- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicates her throne after 52 years.
- She is currently the world’s longest-reigning monarch.
- Her eldest son Prince Frederick succeeds her as ruler.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced her plans to abdicate the throne in her annual New Year’s speech.
The throne will be handed over to his eldest son, Crown Prince Frederick, on January 14, 2024.
Although not as widely known as the British royal family, the Danish royal family has also been mired in drama and scandal in recent years.
Here’s what you need to know about the deposed Danish ruler Queen Margrethe II.
Queen Margrethe II was born on April 16, 1940.
Queen Margrethe II, now 83 years old, was born at Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Danish Royal Family, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
She is the daughter of the former King Frederick IX of Denmark and Queen Ingrid, who was born as Princess of Sweden. She has two siblings, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (77) and Princess Benedicte of Denmark (79).
Margrethe became queen on January 14, 1972, after her father’s death.
Margrethe ascended the throne at the age of 31 after her father Frederick IX died from complications due to pneumonia.
Like the UK, Denmark has a constitutional monarchy, and the monarch and members of the royal family are not allowed to participate in politics or conduct their own political activities.
However, the Queen must sign all Acts of Parliament with the countersigning of her Cabinet.
Margrethe is Europe’s longest-serving current head of state and the world’s longest-serving female current head of state.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Margrethe became Europe’s longest-serving current head of state and the world’s longest-serving female current head of state.
She has ruled for 52 years.
Margrethe was married to Prince Henrik of Denmark for 50 years until his death in 2018.
Before his marriage, Henrik held the title Henri-Marie-Jean-André, Count of Laborde de Montpezat. The couple married in a 20-minute ceremony in Danish tradition on June 10, 1967.
When Margrethe became Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, her husband assumed the title of Crown Prince Henrik of Denmark. However, he was open about the fact that he preferred to be known as her queen.
“It is no secret that the prince has long been dissatisfied with his role in the Danish monarchy and with the title given to him,” Lene Väleby, communications director for the Danish royal family, told the newspaper. BT in 2017, new york times report. “This dissatisfaction has increased in recent years.”
Henrik was so dissatisfied with his title and the lack of a salary for a time that he requested that he not be buried next to his wife after his death, The New York Times reported.
They were married for 50 years until his death on February 13, 2018 at the age of 83.
He was buried on February 20, 2018 at Fredensborg Palace in Fredensborg, Denmark.
There is reportedly a rift between Margrethe and her youngest son, Prince Joachim.
Queen Margrethe has two children, Crown Prince Frederik (55) and Prince Joachim (54).
In September 2022, Queen Margrethe announced that from January 2023, the titles of the princes and princesses of her four grandchildren will be changed to counts and countesses.
A statement from the Danish royal family said the decision, similar to those made by other royal families in recent years, was made to allow children to “shape their lives to a greater extent.”
However, reportedly Children’s father, rift with youngest son Prince Joachim, criticized his influence on his four children. The Queen later apologized, but she did not reverse her decision.
“I made this decision as a queen, mother and grandmother, but as a mother and grandmother I underestimated how much it would affect my second son and his family,” Margrethe said in a statement. “No one should doubt that my children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren are my great joy and pride. I hope now that we can find the peace to get through this situation as a family. I hope.”
Denmark’s royal family did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Queen Margrethe II announced in her New Year’s Eve 2023 speech that she would abdicate the throne and that her eldest son, Prince Frederik, would succeed her.
“I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I hand over to the Crown Prince,” Margrethe said in her annual New Year’s speech on December 31, 2023.
“This amount of time cannot pass unnoticed by anyone, not even me,” she said. “As time passes, the disease increases.”
Earlier this year, Margrethe underwent “major” back surgery, which she said “made me think about the future” and whether “now is the right time to pass on responsibility to the next generation. ” he said.