After 52 years on the throne, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark officially abdicates her throne today, and the Danish people will no doubt reflect on her checkered and sometimes surprising reign.
The 83-year-old royal, to be known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, ascended the throne on January 14, 1972, following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. Throughout her long reign, Queen Margrethe was an unconventional woman who had an imaginative and eccentric sense of style, was creative, had her own opinions, and was not afraid to chide her subjects when necessary. There was a tendency to lean towards people who were.
Monarchs are often perceived as aloof and unapproachable, but Queen Margrethe, despite her charm, is considered relatively down-to-earth in many ways. Margrethe, a former chain smoker who only recently kicked the habit, is regularly photographed with a cigarette in her hand and is known to buy her own groceries at her local supermarket.
As Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik prepares to step into his mother’s iconic shoes, we take a look at Margrethe’s time on the throne, from her glamorous second career to her ‘bad personality’ To go.
Creative talent and a career outside the palace
The multi-talented Queen Margrethe is active in a variety of fields alongside her role as Queen, and is known for her strong creativity. A self-taught artist and avid painter, Margrethe has a keen interest in archaeology, textiles, decoupage and embroidery, and has parlayed her talents into a very impressive career outside of royal duties. I am.
A ballet enthusiast, Margrethe has designed sets and costumes for several ballets and has also collaborated with the Tivoli Ballet Theater since 2001. She also doesn’t mind receiving criticism for her work, as she told reporters in 2007: “People tell me that doesn’t work, and that’s the way it should be, because our goal is to create performances that work well, that entertain and delight audiences, and that lead to theater success. .”
Margrethe is also a talented illustrator whose work has previously been printed and published in the Danish edition of JRR Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings and in the UK edition published by the Folio Society. According to one of Margrethe’s biographers, Tolkien himself was struck by the similarities between her Art Nouveau paintings and his.
style icon
Widely known as one of the best-dressed women in the world, Margrethe brings plenty of vibrant personality to her wardrobe, as well as a deep knowledge of royal history. In an interview with Vogue magazine, Danish designer Julie Brogger, whose brand Brøgger evoked the Queen’s signature style in its spring/summer 2019 collection, recently revealed that she He is passionate about iconic looks and says many of them tell a story.
“She’s better than everyone. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She has a dramatic vision of how you can influence the public’s perception of you through your clothes,” Broger said. “Her interest in her family and the history of the monarchy is evident in her work.” “It’s her gown. My favorite Bender dress is a yellow silk brocade dress with a fur-trimmed jacket. In her interview, she said she drew inspiration from old paintings of her relatives. Told.”
A personality that tends to have biased opinions and a scolding regarding the new coronavirus
We Brits are used to monarchs keeping their personal beliefs out of politics, but Queen Margrethe has made her thoughts clear about those who haven’t followed lockdown rules during the coronavirus pandemic. Told. In fact, weeks before Margrethe canceled plans for her 80th birthday due to restrictions, she became the first monarch to mention the coronavirus in a very firm televised address to the Danish public. .
Urging people to follow the rules, Margrethe said: “Unfortunately, not everyone is taking this seriously. Some people are still hosting celebrations and birthday gatherings. This is not acceptable. “It’s an act that can’t be done. It’s thoughtless, and most of all, it’s thoughtless.”
‘impatient’
According to the biography Three Sisters, the Queen had a bit of a “bad temper” when she was younger. The book delves into the childhood of Margrethe and her two sisters of Greece, Princess Benedicte and Anne-Marie, and details how she once became furious and bit poor Benedicte on her arm.
In a moving passage from The Three Sisters, released to mark President Margrethe’s 70th birthday, Margrethe explains that inheritance laws have been changed to allow women to ascend to the throne even in the absence of siblings. He spoke frankly about his feelings at the time.
Margrethe was just 13 years old when she learned she would one day become the first female ruler of Denmark since the 15th century, but that fate came with its own set of pressures. She said: “My mother and father talked to me about my future as queen, but it doesn’t change anything for everyone else. They talk about it more at school, but I don’t like it. I find it very unpleasant.”
Husband who refused to be buried with him
In 2017, Queen Margrethe’s husband, Prince Henrik of Denmark, announced that he did not want to be buried with the Queen if he died, as he had problems with her never being seen as an equal.
After the Royal Wedding in 1967, Prince Henrik was named Prince Consort of the Queen, although it is believed that he preferred the title King Consort. At the time, the head of communications for the Danish royal family told the tabloid BT: “It is no secret that the prince has been dissatisfied with his role in the Danish monarchy and the title he has been given for many years. It has grown even more and has increased even more in recent years.”
Prince Henrik and Queen Margrethe reportedly met at a dinner party in London in 1965, when Margrethe was still a student at the London School of Economics. Prince Henrik, who was working at the French embassy at the time, wrote in his autobiography of his instant attraction to the future monarch, “I told her that I was in love with her.” I went to that length to make her understand, and she already understood that.”Then, without any warning, I declared that I loved her. She loved those words of hers. ”
Their marriage is thought to have been a happy one, although Henrik expressed dissatisfaction on several occasions about his unequal title and status. In a 2002 interview with BT, Henrik said he was tired of being “number three” in his household, after his wife and son, and he said: I’ve spent many years in Denmark, so I don’t want to suddenly become number three and have a boring attachment.”
Henrik passed away “peacefully” on February 13, 2018, at the age of 83, surrounded by his loved ones at Fredensborg Palace after being hospitalized with pneumonia. He followed Henrik’s final wishes and had him cremated. Half of his ashes were scattered at sea, and the other half were buried in the gardens of Fredensborg Castle. Margrethe is said to have accepted the decision and is expected to remain buried in Roskilde Cathedral.
Domestic troubles and cheating allegations
Queen Margrethe’s abdication comes amid a corruption scandal involving her son, Prince Frederik, as her successor. Frederic, 55, has been accused of having an affair with his wife, Princess Mary, and Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova, 47, who has since denied the rumors. .
Genoveva, 47, was seen attending an art exhibition with the prince in Madrid, a Spanish publication said. Hola!: “I categorically deny any statements that suggest a romantic relationship between Prince Frederick and me. Statements of this kind are not only completely devoid of truth, but also maliciously distort the facts. This is already in my hands.” My attorney will take appropriate steps to protect my honor, truth, and privacy rights. ”
Unfortunately, gossip continues to swirl despite Genoveva’s denials, with some royal experts suggesting Queen Margrethe’s decision to abdicate was a “shrewd” attempt to save Prince Frederik’s marriage. I am guessing that it is. In an interview with Mail Online, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams Phil Dampier recalled, “Queen Margarethe of Denmark is a shrewd strategist. He surprised the nation by announcing that he would be abdicating within the next few days.The royal family is concerned about his affair with Mexican socialite and actress Genoveva Casanova, which was revealed in what appeared to be embarrassing photographic evidence released last November. It was extremely damaging.”
This isn’t the first time the royal family has been at the center of drama in recent years. In October 2022, her second son Prince Joachim expressed regret after stripping his four children of their titles of prince and princess in order to “adjust to the times”, but Margrethe said it was a “difficult” decision. In a statement explaining the matter, he said: My duty and desire as Queen is to ensure that the monarchy continues to shape itself with the times. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions and finding the right time is always difficult. Carrying a royal title comes with a lot. “It’s a review of duties and obligations, and fewer members of the royal family will have responsibilities in the future. I think this adaptation is a necessary safeguard for the future of the monarchy, and I I want to make it happen soon.”
She continued: “I made this decision as a queen, as a mother and as a grandmother, but as a mother and grandmother I underestimated how much it would affect my youngest son and his family. .This left a big impression on me, and I am very sorry.” No one should doubt that my children, stepchildren, and grandchildren are a great joy and pride to me. I now hope that as a family we can get through this on our own and find peace.
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