Written by Louise Rasmussen and Johannes Birkebek
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Queen Margrethe II of Denmark became a unifying figure for the Danish people during her 52-year reign, making her the reigning monarch at a time when royal families across Europe have sometimes struggled to remain relevant in modern society. It aroused widespread support for the system.
The 83-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who became Europe’s longest-reigning monarch after her death in 2022, will hand over the throne to her son Frederick on Sunday.
Recent polls show nearly 80% of Danes support the monarchy, compared to less than half when Margrethe took the throne in 1972.
Support for the Queen was most evident when she spoke at length to members of the public during her annual summer tour of the country of 5.9 million people.
“I think the Queen’s popularity stems from her ability to take stock of her surroundings when she visits all the small towns, and her vast knowledge of history and the country in general,” said Annemet Nordkild, 55, a teacher. Told.
Tore Leifer, editor of Denmark’s National History Museum, said Margrethe was a shy and insecure teenager who often expressed discomfort in her role as heir to the throne.
“She gradually grew up to become a very confident and strong person, a woman who was truly grounded in herself, who understood what she was doing and who took this role as a symbol to unite the whole country. I made it up,” he said.
Margrethe surprised the nation with a surprise announcement on New Year’s Eve that she had decided to abdicate. She has said many times in the past that she plans to continue in this role for the rest of her life. In a 2022 interview, she said:
“Some things don’t need to change. Governments change, should change, must change, but the sovereign is there. Everything doesn’t have to change all the time. You belong to your country. You belong to a nation.” The entire nation. ”
The Queen is often photographed wearing bright, floral outfits, many of which she designed herself, including a long raincoat made of waxed tablecloth with a yellow collar and matching It has a hat. This is appealing for the design-focused country, which is also the world’s oldest monarchy.
“She’s not just smart and modern in terms of being trendy. She has her own style with red raincoats and floral print raincoats, which I think is very cool,” said Professor Lorne Percy. Mr. Smith, 60, said.
Contrary to modern trends, Margrethe was a long-time smoker and was often depicted in Danish pop culture with a cigarette in her hand. She had to retire in February 2023 ahead of her hip surgery, but she says the surgery made her think about the need to pass the baton to the next generation. said.
The Queen began painting at an early age and has since worked on church textiles, graphics, book illustrations, decoupage, scenography and embroidery, many of which have been exhibited in Denmark and abroad.
She drew sketches for the Danish reprint of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in 1977, and most recently created the creative work for The Snow Queen, a ballet based on Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, at the Tivoli in Copenhagen. Became part of the team. .
‘Making a fuss’ about being a woman
Margrethe was born in 1940 to King Frederik IX and Swedish-born Queen Ingrid. The eldest of three sisters, she became the king’s successor in 1953 following a constitutional amendment allowing women to inherit the throne.
She became queen at the age of 31, becoming Denmark’s first female monarch since the 1380s.
“There was a big fuss about me being a woman, and frankly it wasn’t very funny,” she said in a 2019 interview.
“In this context, I have argued that neither my being a woman nor being a head of state is an advantage for me. It is a biological coincidence,” she said.
In 1967 she married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Montpezat, who served as her royal consort until his death in 2018. The couple’s two sons are Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim, who will become King Frederick X on Sunday.
Margrethe retained her title of queen even after stepping down from the throne, becoming Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch in July.
Student Emma Stangard Jensen, 23, said: “I have never known a better queen, so it would be terrible for her to abdicate.” “She has contributed so much to our country, but having a new king could be a breath of fresh air.” ”
(Reporting by Louise Brusch Rasmussen and Johannes Gottfredsen-Birkebek; Editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Francis Kelly)