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She was considered the world's longest-serving monarch since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Now Queen Margrethe wants to hand over the scepter to her heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik – a New Year's Eve sensation.
She is the longest-reigning monarch on Earth – and now, surprisingly, she no longer wants to. The Danish queen Margarida II wants to abdicate next year. The 83-year-old said in her televised New Year's address on Sunday night that she wanted to step down as regent on January 14, 2024. The resignation coincides with her 52nd anniversary on the throne.
In February, she had to undergo major back surgery. Because of rehabilitation, she canceled several appointments or was warned by her son Crown Prince Frederick (55) and his wife Mary (51) represented. The eldest son already attends appointments that the Queen herself used to do. Frederik's eldest son was also recently allowed to go Christian prince (18) officially represent the Queen.
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Danish media described the announcement as “absolutely historic”
The world's oldest monarch began her speech with comments about the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, then discussed the climate crisis and artificial intelligence. After a greeting to the people of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish Kingdom, the sensation came completely unexpectedly. Danish media described the announcement as “absolutely historic”.
After the announcement, spontaneous applause broke out among the spectators who gathered on the palace square in front of Amalienborg Palace. Margrethe always emphasized that she wanted to remain on the throne until her death – until the big surprise on December 31st.
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Margrethe is known for consuming cigarettes
Back surgery appears to have made the Queen completely rethink her approach. According to Danish media reports, she even stopped smoking after the operation – Margrethe had been known to smoke cigarettes for decades.
Margrethe's stubborn, flamboyant and unconventional nature has made her popular among Danes for decades. She spent her childhood not knowing that one day she would become Queen of Denmark. She was born Margrethe Alexandrine Thórhildur Ingrid on 16 April 1940 to her father King Frederick IX. Only the rules of succession changed in 1953, when it became clear that he would have no male descendants. Previously, women could only inherit the Danish throne if there were no male heirs. With the change in law, his eldest daughter Margrethe, then 13, rose to the top of the line of succession, replacing Frederik's brother Knud.
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Like his mother, the future King Frederick is popular among his compatriots
It was also her love of art that connected her with her husband, the French Count Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat. They met in London where she worked at the embassy. They married in 1967. They lived their creativity together, for example translating Simone de Beauvoir's “All Men Are Mortal”. Crown Prince Frederik was born in 1968, followed a year later by Prince Joachim. Henrik dies in February 2018 – after more than 50 years of marriage.
Like his mother, the future King Frederick is popular among his compatriots. His sporting enthusiasm is also well-known: Frederik ran several marathons, completed an Ironman and founded the Royal Run running event on his 50th birthday. In the military, in his early 20s, he underwent rigorous training to become a Marine combat swimmer. His wife, Crown Princess Mary, who hails from Australia, and he are considered a well-rehearsed team. The couple have four children: Christian (18), Isabella (16) and twins Vincent and Josephine (12).