In A Surprise Move, The Queen Of Denmark Has Announced She Is Abdicating After 52 Years
83-year-old Queen Margrethe II is the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving monarch in Europe, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
In a surprise announcement, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has said she will abdicate early in 2024, after a reign lasting more than five decades.
She will formally step down on Jan. 14, which will be 52 years to the day since she became queen in 1972.
The queen dropped the surprise announcement in her traditional New Year’s Eve speech after speaking about the Gaza and Ukraine wars, the climate crisis and artificial intelligence.
“In two weeks’ time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody – also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of “ailments” increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past,” she said.
She mentioned that she made the decision after a period of reflection following surgery on her back in February 2023.
“I have decided that now is the right time,” she said.
She will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
83-year-old Queen Margrethe II is the world’s only reigning queen and the longest-serving monarch in Europe, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
In July, Margrethe became the longest-sitting monarch in Denmark’s history.
The chain-smoking Margrethe is an accomplished artist and painter, loves archaeology and is fluent in five languages.
She drew the illustrations for the Danish editions of “the Lord of the Rings” and held exhibitions at art galleries throughout the country.
In 2021, she was hired as a set designer for a Netflix film.
Prince Frederik will take over the throne as His Majesty King Frederik X in January, the Danish Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
Frederik’s wife, Princess Mary, an Australian, will become Queen Consort.
