Queen Margrethe II of Denmark surprised the nation on January 14 by announcing her abdication from the throne in her New Year’s address. After an astounding 52-year reign, Europe’s longest-reigning monarch will hand over the throne to his son, Crown Prince Frederick, the Associated Press reported.
In a speech to mark his mother’s half-century on the throne in 2022, Crown Prince Frederik expressed his determination to lead the ship when the time comes, vowing to follow in the footsteps of his chain-smoking mother. A father’s leadership at a thousand-year-old facility.
But this cautious assurance reflects a notable evolution from his early days. Gitte Redder, an expert on the Danish royal family, said that although he was not strictly a rebel, Prince Frederick initially felt anxious about media attention and awareness of his future role as king throughout his childhood and adolescence. He pointed out that
Leder said it wasn’t until his mid-20s that Prince Frederick began to gain self-confidence, and there was a big change in the way he approached his royal responsibilities.
His transformation began after he graduated from Aarhus University in 1995, becoming the first Danish royal to earn a university degree. While attending Harvard University under the pseudonym Frederik Henriksen, he paid homage to his father, Crown Prince Henrik. Fluent in English, French, and German, Frederick developed through military training and his notable accomplishments, including service in the Navy’s Frogman Corps and his 2000 Greenland ski expedition.
Queen Margrethe II, 83, announced her decision to hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, in a live televised address, saying she had thought more deeply about her future after undergoing back surgery in early 2023. . It’s the perfect time to relinquish responsibility to the next generation.
Expressing gratitude for the support of the Danish people, Queen Margrethe’s decision was approved by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Looking ahead to 2024, he said Crown Prince Frederik will become king and Crown Princess Mary will assume the role of queen.
Anticipating the inauguration of the new Regent and the King and Queen, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in their readiness for the responsibilities and tasks. Queen Margrethe II will abdicate her throne on January 14, the same day she ascended the throne following the death of her father Frederick IX in 1972 at the age of 31.
Image source: The Guardian