DENMARK’S QUEEN MARGRETHE II TO ABDICATE
Europe’s longest-serving monarch, has announced that she will abdicate after 52 years on the throne.
Queen Margrethe II from Denmark has decided to abdicate the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
The announcement by the 83-year-old queen was made during her New Year’s Eve speech. The annual speech is a Danish tradition and viewed by almost everyone.
Queen Margrethe II said her decision to abdicate came after a successful back surgery in February 2023 that made her reflect on the future.
“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.”
The country’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said it’s a big transition for the country.
“Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation.”
The Queen made headlines in 2022 when she stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles.
At the time she said “it is my duty ad my desire as Queen to ensure that the monarchy always shapes itself in keeping with the times. Sometimes, this means that difficult decisions must be made”.
Image credit: The Mirror