In a televised New Year’s speech, the Queen of Denmark has announced that she will step down from her royal duties. She will formally step down on January 14 and will be replaced by her son, Crown Prince Frederick.
She has stated that her deteriorating health conditions prevent her from performing her duties well and would like to abdicate in favor of her son taking over Denmark’s monarchy. According to CNN, the queen has also stated that “One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past.” Queen Margrethe was also the distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, following whose death in 2022 she became the world’s longest reigning monarch. Margrethe is also the longest sitting ruler in Danish history, in the past 1200 years. She is also the first monarch to abdicate the Danish monarchy since sometime in the 1100s.
She has always been very popular as a queen and her authority has never been questioned within the country. The Guardian interviewed several Danish commoners about their feelings regarding the Queen’s abdication, where they all seemed to express sadness at her stepping down. While other European royal houses underwent scandals in the latter half of the 20th century, Denmark’s queen has always been regarded for her wit and charm. According to opinion poll reports nearly 70% of the country was satisfied with the monarchy.
In her later years, the queen faced back and knee pain, prompting her to undergo surgery in 2023. Following the procedure, she made a significant lifestyle change by quitting a 66-year-long heavy smoking habit, a topic of debate. Health professionals had urged her to be a better role model, and this decision marked a positive step for her well-being.
Margrethe has been known for her love of skiing. She actively participated in various activities as a princess, including being a member of a Danish women’s air force unit. She engaged in judo courses and endurance tests in snowy conditions. Even as she aged, her toughness remained evident. At the age of 70 in 2011, when she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan, she was clad in a military jumpsuit.
As a monarch, Margrethe extensively traveled throughout Denmark and regularly visited Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both semi-independent territories within the Danish Realm. Her presence was consistently met with enthusiastic cheers from crowds wherever she went.
Stripping of titles
Margrethe, the queen, decided to remove titles from her younger son’s children, a move reflecting a trend seen in other royal families, like Sweden. Despite apologizing to her family, Margrethe justified her decision as being in line with the times and essential for safeguarding the monarchy’s future in Denmark, as stated by the royal court.
Power of the Danish Monarch
The Danish monarch is in a ceremonial position and the duties are representative. The power lies with the elected government and parliament.
Who is the Crown Prince of Denmark?
Prince Frederick Andre Henrick Christian, who is to take over the royal duties, is the son of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrick. He studied at Harvard University and went on to complete a Master’s in Political Science from Aarhus University. He is married to the Australian, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, who is also largely liked by the public for her ability to speak Danish and understand its humour well.
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