Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the world’s only living queen, has announced that she will step down from the throne at the age of 83 after 52 years on the throne.
She shared the news while giving her annual New Year’s Eve speech, saying that her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, would take over in her place in two weeks.
The decision was made after Queen Margrethe underwent surgery in early 2023, giving her time to rest and reflect.
“My surgery naturally made me start thinking about the future. Is it time to hand over responsibility to the next generation?” she said in her speech. “We decided now was the right time.”
When the changes come into effect, Frederick’s Australian-born wife Princess Mary, who worked as a lawyer before marrying into the royal family, will also have a role change and become Queen Consort of Denmark.
The couple have four children and are praised for giving their children as normal a life as possible and (in general) sending them to state schools.
Margrethe II and Elizabeth II met many times during their overlapping reigns and were actually third cousins. Queen Margrethe was reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 the day after attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022.
When celebrating her 40th anniversary in 2012, Margrethe spoke of how Elizabeth had inspired her, saying, “Somehow I realized that, like her, I had to dedicate my life to my country.” You have to understand, and that’s what she did.” It was very important to me. ”
Unlike Britain, where Charles III inherited the throne from his mother, the future King Frederick will not be crowned in a lavish coronation ceremony, but a notice will be issued by Denmark’s Palace on January 14.
Frederick could step up to become head of state not only of Denmark, but also of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, just like his mother is today.
In addition to leading the Danish royal family for 52 years, Queen Margrethe II was also a set designer, passionate costume designer, and illustrator. She was married to French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat from 1967 until his death.
She also recently made headlines for stripping her four grandchildren of their prince and princess titles, which she later told reporters was “shocked” by them (and for which she apologized but retracted them). I didn’t). The Queen said the move was aimed at freeing her from the constraints of the royal family and allowing for a more normal life, and appears to reflect the Queen’s efforts to slim down her monarchy. Stated.
Regarding the news of Margrete’s abdication, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the upcoming changes would be a big change for the country, as most people only know the monarchy when it comes to the royal family.
“The duties and position of regent have been passed down for more than 1,000 years, but it remains difficult to understand that the time has come for a change of throne,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“Many of us don’t know any other regents. Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and has given us words and feelings for us as a people and a nation for many years. ”
When Queen Margrethe II was born, she had no idea that she would one day become the reigning monarch, but when she turned 13, rules were put in place that allowed women to take the throne.
Jennifer Sabin is Cosmopolitan UK’s award-winning features editor and was named Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues that matter most to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, royals and more, using her valuable connections to access her top experts. She has thoroughly researched everyone from big politicians to A-list celebrities, and has meticulously interviewed hundreds of people about their real-life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover work and campaign work, including petitioning governments for change around topics such as abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. It also includes success. Jennifer is a published author, a documentary consultant (she helped make BBC’s Deepfakes: Could You Be Next?), and a patron of YES (a youth support charity). In addition to Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE, and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and appeared on panels such as the Women of the World Festival and the University of Manchester (and (Moderator) also gives lectures. In her free time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick and leopard print, and she over-orders for dinner. Follow Jennifer on her Instagram. X Or LinkedIn.