This wasn't expected and there wasn't even a rumor that it would happen in the short term. Therefore, the announcement of Margaret of Denmark's abdication in favor of her first-born son, Prince Frederick, came as a surprise. “I have decided that now is the right time and will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, 52 years after succeeding my beloved father. “I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Friedrich,” the monarch revealed this Sunday, December 31st, during her traditional New Year’s address on television. So in two weeks, Margaret of Denmark will no longer be Europe's oldest queen, a title she has held since the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022.
With his abdication, Frederick of Denmark takes over the throne and his wife Mary Donaldson, with whom he will celebrate their 20th anniversary on May 14, 2024, becomes queen. A union that has made numerous headlines in Denmark and abroad in recent months, after some photos were published last November in which the still heir to the Danish throne was seen with Genoveva Casanova on the streets of Madrid. “I firmly reject claims that suggest a romantic relationship between Prince Friedrich and me. “Any statement of this kind is not only completely untrue,” Cayetano Martínez de Irujo’s ex-wife said at the time. The Danish royal family also issued a statement on this and neither confirmed nor denied the information: “For years we have had a policy of not commenting on or confirming information on private matters.” “In addition, we would like to express our commitment to respecting privacy by members of the royal family, including the Crown Prince.”
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Mary and Frederick of Denmark, accompanied by Queen Margaret, on their wedding day in Copenhagen on May 14, 2004. Ian Waldie (Getty Images)
Frederick of Denmark will succeed his mother at the age of 55. And since it is not known when and how the coronation will take place, this is what the succession to the Danish throne will look like from January 14th.
Christian of Denmark, born in Copenhagen on October 15, 2005, will be first in line to the throne. The firstborn of Frederick and Mary of Denmark came of age last October, an occasion that the Danish royal family celebrated together with other European monarchies and young people of their generation. He is currently completing his secondary studies in the Danish capital and faces the challenge of becoming better known among his compatriots, being more present at official events and taking on more responsibility within his duties. As he waits to ascend the throne of other European monarchies, he is accompanied by Eleanor of Spain, Isabella of the Belgians, and Amalia of the Netherlands. In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, little Prince Charles is now three years old, and 41-year-old William of England, Prince of Wales, does not belong to his generation either.
His three brothers follow Christian of Denmark in the line of succession to the throne. Second place goes to Isabella from Denmark, 16 years old. Behind her are the twins Vincent and Josefina, who will turn 13 on January 8th. On the official website of the Danish royal family, it is of course clear that Prince Vincent is ahead of his sister in the line of succession.
Federico and Mary from Denmark with their four children, on February 6, 2022.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN (AFP)
After the four children of Frederick of Denmark and Maria, Prince Joachim becomes the fifth in line to the throne, the brother of the future king. As can be read on the official website of the Danish royal family, he can perform regent functions when Margarethe and Frederick of Denmark are outside the country. It remains to be seen whether it will remain in place if Frederick is made king.
Prince Joaquín is followed in the line of succession to the throne by his four children: Nicolás (24 years old) and Félix (21), the result of his marriage to Countess Alejandra; and Enrique (14) and Athena (11), born from his second marriage to Princess Marie, whom he married in May 2008.
Joachim of Denmark accompanied by his four children and his wife, Princess Marie, on September 11, 2022. MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN (AFP)
In September 2022, these four young princes made headlines after Queen Margaret made public her decision to strip them of the very title of prince. A decision that did not affect her position in the line of succession, but came into force on January 1, 2023, despite the controversy that arose. “With her decision, Her Majesty the Queen wishes to create a framework for her four grandchildren to do so.” brings itself,” says the Danish royal family's statement on this matter. Alejandra de Frederiksborg, mother of two of the teenagers, reacted to the announcement by expressing her “sadness” and “shock” on behalf of the family. Then Prince Joachim would do it himself: “I am very, very sad to see them sad and not understanding what happened to them,” he told the Danish media and also spoke of “punishment”. In the face of the controversy, Frederick of Denmark only said that he supported his mother's decision, but Queen Margaret was forced to apologize: “I made my decision as queen, mother and grandmother, but as mother and grandmother I have “I underestimated the extent to which my youngest son and his family would be affected. “It made a big impression on me and I’m sorry,” the Danish monarch said in a statement. It was only weeks later that mother and children were seen together in public again: it was in November 2022 at one of the events for Queen Margaret's jubilee. Of course there was no photo of the entire family.
Queen Margaret greets her sister, Princess Benedicta, at an event in October 2020.RITZAU SCANPIX (Portal)
Princess Benedicta, Margaret's sister, completes the line of succession in ninth place. Benedicta, 79, belongs to the generation of European royalty that prefers, as she noted in an authorized biography published in April 2019, not to present themselves like film artists, “or even as part of the so-called jet set.” , the rich and famous who travel on private planes. Benedicta is the sister of another queen, Ana María of Greece – wife of Constantine of Greece and therefore sister-in-law of Queen Sofia, she was the country's last consort – and took over the position of head as regent last February when Margaret of Denmark herself had to undergo surgery to relieve her back problems.
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