Denmark Queen Margrethe II Announces Surprise Abdication After 52-Year Reign (image: facebook.com/rufusgifford)
Denmark Queen Margrethe II, Europe”s longest-serving monarch announced on Sunday that she would abdicate the throne on January 14 and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik. The 84-year-old queen made the surprise announcement on live TV during her annual New Year”s eve speech.
Queen Margrethe II who ascended the throne in 1972 has been ruling for 52 years. Following the death of Britain”s Queen Elizabeth II on September 22, she holds the title of the longest serving monarch in Europe and the only reigning queen in Europe.
She had a back surgery in February. Referring the successful operation, Queen said: “The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation”.
“I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as queen of Denmark,” she said.
“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” Queen added.
Denmark”s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen extended thanks to the queen for her life-long dedication to duty and confirmed news in a press release.
In Denmark, official power rests with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above preferential politics, act for the nation in matters of traditional duties spanning from state visits to national day celebrations.
Born in 1940 to Denmark”s former monarch King Frederik IX and and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe became heir to the throne at the age of 32. In 1967, she married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, and couple”s two sons are Crown Prince Frederik, and Prince Joachim.
