Video captures emotional moment of Denmark’s Queen’s abdication

Video footage of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II stepping down as monarch showed a rare moment of visible emotion as she exited the ceremony to hand over the throne to her son, King Frederick X.

After signing her abdication papers in a televised ceremony on Sunday, the 83-year-old rose to make way for her son, 55, on the Danish throne. She was then handed the cane by her grandson, Crown Prince Christian.

Margrethe then said in Danish, “God save the King,” and her face appeared to go from smiling to tearing up before leaving the room.

This is the first time in nearly 900 years that a Danish queen has voluntarily abdicated the throne. She surprised her royal watchers on New Year’s Eve by announcing she was stepping down, citing declining health following her recent hip surgery.

The move renewed speculation that Britain’s King Charles III might do the same for Prince William. However, the British royal family has generally been reluctant to abdicate the throne during her lifetime, particularly since 1936, when Edward VIII’s abdication sparked a constitutional crisis.

In other parts of Europe, abdication in favor of younger monarchs is more common. In 2014, King Juan Carlos I of Spain made way for his son Felipe VI, and the year before that, King Albert II of Belgium ceded the throne to Philip. Two months earlier, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands had abdicated, allowing Willem-Alexander to take the throne.

Denmark is one of only seven remaining kingdoms in Europe. Like Charles III’s coronation in 2023, the abdication drew public support, with thousands of people gathering outside Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace.

After signing the abdication document, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik to the assembled nation from the balcony of the palace. When Queen Mary and her four children joined them, the Associated Press reported that the crowd spontaneously sang the Danish national anthem.

“My hope is to be the unified king of tomorrow,” Frederick said. “It’s a challenge I’ve struggled with all my life.”

The royal couple then left Kristianborg Palace, the current Danish parliament building, and headed to Amalienborg Palace, where they appeared again in front of a large crowd. Frederick was moved by the outpouring of emotion. wipe Tears filled his eyes as he waved to onlookers.

“My wife joins me in writing to convey our best wishes on the day of your accession,” Britain’s Charles III wrote in a statement to Denmark’s new monarch.

He paid tribute to Margrethe’s “longstanding service” and added: “We look forward to working with you to ensure that the lasting ties between our two countries and our families remain strong.” Charles and Margrethe are related through Queen Victoria.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf called Margrethe his “dear cousin Daisy” and expressed his “deepest wishes” in a message that spoke of their “close and abiding” friendship. [your] Success,” said King Frederick.

“We would like to pay our warm and loving tribute to Queen Margrethe for her unconditional dedication and extraordinary dedication to her country,” King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands wrote in a statement.

“We look forward to meeting King Frederick X and Queen Mary in their new roles and look forward to continuing to cherish the deep friendship between the Netherlands and Denmark.”

There was also a royal ascent. welcomed Iceland was part of the Kingdom of Denmark until it became a republic in 1944, and was written by President Guðni Torlasius Johannesson. He sent Margrethe his “warmest wishes” and thanked Frederik “for the deep friendship between our two countries throughout history and for many years to come.”