Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced in a speech on Sunday that she will abdicate as queen on January 14th.
According to the BBC, the Queen of Denmark currently holds the title of Europe’s longest-reigning living monarch and is currently the only living queen in the world.
Following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the Queen of Denmark reportedly became Europe’s longest-reigning monarch. In July, she became Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch.
“I hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederick,” she said in a televised speech, according to the BBC. “I have decided that now is the right time. I will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, 52 years after succeeding her beloved father.”
What will happen next?
Queen Margrethe explained that she underwent “extensive back surgery” in February 2023.
“Everything went well thanks to the talented medical personnel who cared for me.” According to CNN, this surgery is a necessary step for the future, and now is the right time to hand over responsibility to the next generation. “It gave me an opportunity to think about whether or not this is the case,” the Queen said.
According to reports, Prince Frederick will take the throne in place of His Majesty King Frederick
The New York Times reported that “the would-be kings” are part of “a younger generation of royals whose lives have been relentlessly covered in the media and who have embraced a modern position.”
Although the prince reportedly makes continued efforts to combat climate change, his mother has reportedly shared the opinion that she is unsure whether climate change is directly caused by humans. I have angered scientists.
Princess Mary’s accession to the throne is reportedly expected to draw a large audience from her former home in Hobart, Tasmania, ahead of her meeting with the prince.
Reaction to Queen Margrethe’s abdication of the throne
In Denmark, 5.9 million viewers watched the announcement, which was made on live television during the Queen’s traditional New Year’s Eve speech, according to Reuters.
In response to the announcement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked the Queen for her work, saying in a statement: “Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark, and for many years she has poured her words and emotions into us as a people and as a nation.” did.
Frederiksen added: “It’s still difficult to understand that the time has come for a change of throne.”