Denmark's Queen Margrethe II will abdicate on January 14 next year after 52 years on the throne, she announced during her traditional New Year's Eve speech.
The monarch, known for both her chain smoking and flamboyant sense of style, will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.
The 83-year-old queen, who ascended to the throne in 1972, is Europe's longest-reigning monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
In February she underwent successful back surgery.
“The operation has of course given rise to reflection about the future – whether it is time to pass responsibility to the next generation,” she said in her speech.
“I have decided that now is the right time.” On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.
“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”
In her broadcast today, Queen Margrethe II said: “I have decided that now is the right time.” “On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. “
She's a chain smoker and so “normal” that she shops at the supermarket – but Queen Margrethe of Denmark is also Europe's longest-reigning head of state. Above: The Queen lighting up in 1997 (left); and attending the annual New Year's dinner at the Christian VII Palace in Amalienborg, Copenhagen in January
Margrethe maintained a close relationship with the Queen and made close contacts on several official visits to the respective countries over the decades – most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received in Windsor (above).
In Denmark, formal power lies with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to rise above party politics and represent the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.
Margrethe was born in 1940 and throughout her life enjoyed the broad support of Danes, who valued her tactful yet creative personality.
The monarch hit the headlines last year when she stripped her younger son Prince Joachim's four children of royal titles.
She maintained a close relationship with her cousin Queen Elizabeth II, who had become close on several state visits to each other's countries over the decades – most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received in Windsor.
Margrethe was born on April 16, 1940, a week after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark.
Through the occupation, the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes.
She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after her father's death.
But despite being his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when Denmark's constitution was changed to allow women to inherit the throne.
This was followed by a referendum in which more than 85 percent of participants voted to allow women to succeed them.
On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Denmark's Christiansborg Palace and swore her loyalty to the nation.
The 31-year-old monarch wore a black veil and a gown decorated with the insignia of the Order of the Elephant and the family order of her father, King Frederick IX. She declared: “My beloved father, our king, is dead.”
“The task that my father carried for almost 25 years now rests on my shoulders.” I pray to God to give me help and strength to carry the difficult legacy. May the trust given to my father be granted to me too.'
On her 83rd birthday on April 16, Queen Margrethe waved to a crowd of well-wishers outside the palace in Copenhagen
The monarch was also joined by her son Frederik, Crown Prince, and his wife Princess Mary, as well as their four children
Queen Margrethe (middle) pictured with her sons Prince Friedrich (left) and Prince Joachim (right) and their children on her 83rd birthday
Pictured: Royal fans gather outside Christian VII Palace in Amalienborg in Copenhagen to catch a glimpse of the monarch
The mother-of-two cut an elegant figure in a matching powder blue midi skirt, high-neck top and jacket
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark pictured with her husband Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, waving to the crowd from a balcony at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 15, 1972, after her succession to the Danish throne was announced following her death became father King Frederick IX
Queen Ingrid of Denmark with her daughter, the then Crown Princess Margrethe, in 1960
According to Hello! In the biography “Three Sisters,” Princess Margarethe grew up in a “bad mood” and “bite her sister Benedikte on the arm once.” Above: Margrethe (left) is seen with her mother and father, King Frederik and Queen Ingrid, and her siblings Anne-Marie (center) and Benedikte (right).
As the first queen of Denmark since Margrethe I in the early 15th century, the monarch paved a path that continues to this day.
A popular royal, she is known as the “people's monarch” because she not only does her own shopping, but also has a successful career as an illustrator and designer, and until 2015, she flouted convention by flashing in public.
In 2021, it was announced that she had been hired as a set designer for a Netflix film, in which she would design the sets for an adaptation of a romantic fantasy novel by Karen Blixen, Out of Africa, one of Denmark's most internationally acclaimed authors.
Margrethe has also studied at five universities and is a committed Anglophile.
She spent a year at North Foreland Lodge boarding school in Hampshire and then studied prehistoric archeology at Girton College, Cambridge.
The then Princess also studied at the London School of Economics in 1965.
The young princess, pictured aged 18, was educated at schools in Copenhagen and England before beginning her studies at Cambridge University
Margrethe was studying in London when she met her future husband Henrik (pictured: Queen Ingrid, King Frederik, Princess Margethe, Count Henri, Countess and Count Andre de Monpezat and their daughter Madam Bardin celebrating the engagement of Crown Princess Margrethe to Count Henri )
The then Princess Margrethe tied the knot in 1967 and Laborde de Monpezat was given the style and title “His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark”.
The couple, pictured at a party in the 1970s, had two sons in the early years of their marriage
In an interview to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last June, Margrethe said the Queen had made a “huge impression” on her because of the way she “carried out her duties, the way she is committed, but also because she does it.” with a smile.'
The couple are said to have used nicknames for each other, with the Queen calling her Danish counterpart “Daisy” and Margrethe using “Lilibet” – the name used by her immediate family.
Margrethe is known as “Daisy” or “Aunt Daisy” because the flower of the same name is known as “Marguerite” in both Sweden and Denmark.
Both monarchs also shared a love of dogs, with the Queen known for her love of corgis – she had more than 30 in her life – and Margrethe a fondness for dachshunds.
Margrethe ascended the throne after the death of her father Frederick IX. of Denmark on January 14, 1972. This year marks the 50th anniversary of her reign (pictured in her first official portrait).
The fun-loving queen's persona is a far cry from the stiff upper lip often associated with the monarchy, and she is regularly pictured in eye-catching, colorful outfits. Above: Margrethe at the age of 40 in 1980
Although she had a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was marked by controversy. Henrik stunned Danes when he said he felt he had been pushed aside by his wife in his own home
Queen Margrethe was related to Her Late Majesty through Queen Victoria, whose third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, was Margrethe's great-grandfather and Her Majesty's great-uncle.
Margrethe's House of Glücksburg and the House of Windsor are also through Margrethe's great-great-grandfather Christian IX. tied together.
His daughter Alexandra married Edward VII, Queen Victoria's eldest son.
He was the queen's great-grandfather and the great-great-grandfather of King Charles III.
Her Majesty first visited Denmark in 1957, when Margrethe's parents – King Frederick IX. and Queen Ingrid – sat on the throne.
Queen Margrethe was related to Her Late Majesty through Queen Victoria (left with her husband Prince Albert), whose third son was Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (right), Margrethe's great-grandfather and Her Majesty's great-uncle
Like King Charles, Queen Margrethe wants a slimmed-down Danish monarchy. But when she stripped some grandchildren of their titles, she caused a stir and she apologized for the way it was done
The Danish Queen is pictured with her sons Frederik (sitting) and Joachim and their wives, Princess Mary and Princess Marie (left, standing).
Her second trip in 1979 is remembered for the embarrassing moment when a Danish soldier was thrown from his horse during the parade in Copenhagen – and Her Majesty smiled.
Margrethe put her hand to her mouth in embarrassment, but couldn't help but smile.
Another hussar then had difficulty controlling his steed and it galloped up from the rear of the troop before prancing around the royal carriage.
Luckily, the rest of the visit went without further drama.
When Margrethe visited Britain in 1974, the Queen greeted her with a joke: “There was once a time when news of the arrival of Danes on our east coast was anything but good news.”