Keld Navntoft/Ritzau Scanpix/Portal
Queen Margrethe II will give a New Year's address and announce her abdication at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen on Sunday, December 31, 2023.
CNN –
In a surprise move, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has announced that she will step down from office in early 2024 after more than five decades in power.
Margrethe, 83, will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, she said in her traditional New Year's Eve speech broadcast on Danish television.
She cited back surgery in February 2023 as food for thought for her future.
“In two weeks I will be Queen of Denmark for 52 years,” she said.
“Such an amount will leave its mark on everyone – including me!” Time takes its toll and the number of “complaints” increases. “You can’t do as much as you could in the past,” she added.
“In February of this year I underwent extensive back surgery,” she said. “Everything went well thanks to the competent health staff who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave rise to reflection on the future – whether now would be the right time to pass on responsibility to the next generation.
“I decided now was the right time,” she said.
“On January 14, 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.
Queen Margrethe II took over on January 14, 1972 after the death of King Frederik IX. the throne.
After the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II last year, Margrethe became Europe's longest-serving monarch.
Prince Frederik will take the throne as His Majesty King Frederik X in January, the Danish prime minister's office said in a statement.
After a meeting in the State Council, the Prime Minister will announce the change of throne at Christiansborg Palace.
The Queen will continue to use the title “Her Majesty” after the handover.
According to the country's constitution, the Danish royal family has a limited role, with power resting with parliament. Monarchs play an important ambassadorial role and sign new laws.
Portal reports that Margrethe enjoyed widespread support from Danes throughout her life.