A story of two queens. Historian Ian Lloyd reveals in moving detail how Margrethe of Denmark drew inspiration from her friend, cousin and mentor, Queen Elizabeth II.

• Margrethe announces she will step down for her son
• Margrethe and Elizabeth are both great-granddaughters of Queen Victoria

Elizabeth II was more than just a head of state to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. She was a friend, cousin, and role model.

The late queen’s dedication to her duties was an inspiration to Margrethe, who once admitted that “she has much more experience than I do.”

Elizabeth told her, “Somehow I have to understand that I have to dedicate my life to my country, just as she has done for me. It was very important for me.”

Elizabeth also made it clear to Margrethe that the monarchy was “a mission that I have inherited from you and a mission that I will continue to uphold as long as you live.”

This shared belief that being sovereign is a life’s work makes this week’s sudden announcement of his abdication all the more surprising.

However, Margrethe may have had the late Queen in mind, as she is prioritizing a smooth succession to the throne to Crown Prince Frederick.

Elizabeth II, the anointed sovereign, would never have abdicated, but in February 2022, she memorably told Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, “You gave me… He requested the same support from the country and recognized Camilla as his son’s queen consort.

In other words, there appears to have been a strong threat to the Queen’s future plans and preparations in her later years.

Similarly, Margrethe said that after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan decided to step down as working royals in 2020, Elizabeth would strip her of her Royal Highness, Royal Patronage, and honorary military titles from Prince Harry. I would have followed that method.

In a similar move that caused controversy at home, the Queen of Denmark removed the titles of prince and princess from her second son Prince Joakim’s four children.

As with Elizabeth II, it was painful for her to do so, but Margrethe believed it was a necessary step, saying: “Difficulties and disagreements can happen in any family, including mine.” I commented.

Elizabeth and Margrethe were not only friends, but also cousins.

They are the great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and the great-great-grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark, whose daughter is Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Queen Alexandra (wife of King Edward VII).

Prince Philip had an even closer relationship with Margarete.

Although he was born Prince Philip of Greece, the Greek royal family was actually Danish.

Philip’s grandfather was Prince William of Denmark, who agreed to take the vacant Greek throne and serve as King George I.

Elizabeth and Margrethe called each other “Your Majesty” in public, but in private Margrethe was known to her cousin as “Daisy”.

The Danish queen was named after her British-born grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connacht (“Daisy”), one of Victoria’s many granddaughters.

Elizabeth was known by her family as “Lilibet,” as Margrethe’s cousin once explained.

“That’s how we’ve always known each other. That’s what we call each other when we see each other or talk to each other. We certainly have affection, but we don’t call it that. I don’t want it all over the place!”

Margrethe was 31 years old when she became queen.

Fourteen years younger than Elizabeth, she watched Lilibet succeed her father at just twenty-five.

“When I was a child, I wished I hadn’t been so young when my father died,” Margrethe said decades later.

“That made a big impression on me. The fact that she was dedicating her life. I understood what that meant. This is for life. That’s the whole point of my life.” And I know she sees that too.”

“When I was a child, my father and mother said to me, look at what they are doing in England, and that it is possible, that it is worthwhile, and that despite the obstacles, I found that I could live a very fulfilling life with a hectic schedule and a demanding job.

“She and I both consider this a commitment and a job at the same time.”

When she became queen in 1972, Margrethe quickly realized that “one is in a certain solitary position, but one is dependent on all kinds of people…”. It is important to know that you are not alone. ”

It was the two spouses who shared the burden. Both women were married before they ascended to the throne, Philippe a Greek prince and French-born Prince Henrik married a foreigner who was a diplomat.

Both men had outspoken and controversial personalities, modernized the two courts, and had no patience for bureaucracy. Margrethe once said, “I know her husband is difficult.”

It got worse with the onset of dementia. Henrik once went on strike until he received more state allowances, furious that his son, Crown Prince Frederik, was placed above him in his priorities.

Much grief was caused when he refused to attend Margrethe’s 75th birthday celebrations and announced that he did not want to be buried next to her.

Margrethe not only admired Elizabeth’s sense of duty, but also loved her sense of humor.

She attended the Royal Box at the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony and, like other guests, was fascinated by Elizabeth’s involvement in the James Bond parody.

“There was a queen sitting with her back to the camera, and I thought, ‘Maybe someone is very cleverly impersonating her?’ And then she stood up and it was her!” It’s probably a good sport. ”

She then continued: She said: “I told her how impressed I was that she attended and said I thought we all thought it was really great.”

According to Daisy, Elizabeth “enjoyed the surprise and apparently didn’t even tell the kids.”

Margrethe was the late Queen’s most respected head of state.

The protocol stipulates that a reigning queen like Margrethe should only make one official visit to the country during another monarch’s reign.

However, the Queen of Denmark was invited twice, in 1974 and 2000.

Elizabeth awarded her cousin the Royal Victorian Chain in 1972, a rare honor with fewer than 10 living recipients of the award.

She also became the seventh Lady of the Garter since Queen Alexandra became the first Lady of the Garter in 1901.

Elizabeth and Philip were awarded Denmark’s highest chivalric order, the Order of the Elephant, as a wedding gift in 1947, but Margrethe’s father, King Frederick, sent the gift by snail mail rather than at a formal ceremony.

Elizabeth also became Colonel Daisy of the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment in 1997, a year after Princess Diana relinquished the role after her divorce.

Margrethe and other members of the “King’s Union”, as Edward VII called his fellow monarchs, attended important events in England, including three of Queen Elizabeth’s four jubilees, her silver wedding, her golden wedding anniversary, and her wedding anniversary. They often gathered to celebrate national events.

Furthermore, Margrethe has a house in Belgravia, just behind Buckingham Palace, and Elizabeth once said, “Whenever I’m in London, she always invites me to lunch. She talks about my family, this country and that country. It’s a time to talk about things like how things are going and the kids,” he once said. to. ‘

Elizabeth’s death in September 2022 coincided with celebrations in Denmark to mark Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee.

Many events have been canceled out of respect.

The first event was a gala performance at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen. Before the event began, Margrethe asked Elizabeth for a minute’s silence in her honor.

Daisy traveled to London for her funeral in September 2022.

She attended the late Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Hall, where she was photographed visibly crying and looking quite forlorn.

Upon receiving news of Elizabeth’s death, her cousin sent a special letter to Charles III:

“Deeply touched by the sad news of the passing of your beloved mother, we send our warm thoughts and prayers to you and Camilla.

“Your mother was very important to me and my family. She was one of the great monarchs of Europe and a great inspiration to all of us. I’ll be very sad when it’s gone.”

• Ian Lloyd is the author of The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II (The History Press).