Well, this is a big surprise. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe is abdicating, as of January 14th. She announced her abdication in a televised speech on New Year’s Eve. While Margrethe has spent the past eighteen months cleaning up various situations, I’m not sure people were expecting this to happen right now. It was back in September 2022 that Margrethe decided to send her younger son, Prince Joachim, away from Denmark and she also removed all of his children’s royal titles. She’s also been pulling Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary closer, and their oldest child, Prince Christian, just celebrated his 18th birthday in 2023. Maybe Queen Margrethe just felt like now was the time.
Queen Margrethe II, the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Denmark, has announced that she will abdicate in January 2024.
The news came during Margrethe’s New Year’s Eve speech on Sunday, when the Queen, 83, revealed that her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will succeed her and become the new King of Denmark.
“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,” she said, per Reuters.
Back in July, Queen Margrethe became the Scandinavian country’s longest-reigning Monarch, after she took over for her father Frederik IX in January 1972. Come January, she would have served 52 years as Denmark’s queen.
She’s 83 and she doesn’t want to do this anymore. I get that. Plus, by abdicating, she gets to act as a sort of emeritus queen in the background, advising King Frederik and Queen Consort Mary. Some people are already wondering (me, I’m some people) if this abdication has anything to do with the big sex scandal which broke a few months ago – Frederik carrying on a woman based in Spain, with the Spanish media covering every lurid detail. Interestingly enough, Mary seemed especially over it in December – she flew to Australia early with some of the children, and Frederik flew out later. There were rumors that Mary and Fred didn’t have a very pleasant time together in Oz, although they flew back to Denmark right before Christmas. Is the abdication a scheme to get Fred and Mary to stick it out?
King Charles is only eight years younger than Margrethe.
The Queen of Denmark, Margrethe ll, just announced that she’ll hand over the throne to her son, Kronprins Frederik, on the 14th of January 2024 during her New Years speech.
She’s currently the longest living Monarch, having reigned since 1972???????? pic.twitter.com/0cnqZkFhDr
— Mathias Føns (@FonsDK) December 31, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.
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Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen.
Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered.
EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236769, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen.
Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered.
EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236773, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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- Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik pay their respects to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, following her death, during her lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, in London, Britain, September 18, 2022.,Image: 724022711, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: SARAH MEYSSONNIER / Avalon
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Queen Margrethe II
The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, West Door, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724158816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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Cahors, FRANCE – Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, accompanied by Rachel Amalric, director of the museum and Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure mayor of Cahors, inaugurates her exhibition “Margrethe, artist-Queen”, which brings together all of her artistic work presented at the Henri-Martin museum in Cahors, France, on August 17, 2022, a neighboring town to the Château de Caïx, property of the Danish royal family.
Pictured: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
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*UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children
Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attending a Gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace for the Queen her 50th Jubilee of Government in Copenhagen.
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 11 Sep 2022
Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images**NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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Prince Christian of Denmark gala dinner to celebrate his 18th birthday at Christiansborg Palace
Featuring: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 15 Oct 2023
Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images**NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Letizia of Spain attending a state banquet at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Monday November 6, 2023. The Spanish royal couple is on a three-day state visit to Denmark. Photo by Stefan Lindblom/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM
Featuring: King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Queen Letizia of Spain
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 06 Nov 2023
Credit: Stefan Lindblom/Stella Pictures/Abaca Press/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
