Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has announced that she will abdicate the throne on January 14, 2024, after a 52-year reign. The 83-year-old monarch made the announcement during her traditional New Year’s Eve televised speech, stating that she will leave the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. Her role as monarch of Denmark is largely ceremonial, and her decision to step down coincides with the anniversary of the 1972 death of her father, King Frederik IX, whom she succeeded at the age of 31.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the decision and paid tribute to Queen Margrethe for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom. The 1.82-meter-tall, chain-smoking queen has been a popular public figure in Denmark, known for her warm manners, linguistic talents, and design skills. She also has a reputation for toughness, visiting Danish troops in Afghanistan at the age of 70 and regularly traveling throughout the country and visiting Greenland and the Faeroe Islands.
Queen Margrethe’s announcement has sparked both surprise and gratitude, as she has been an admired and beloved figure in Denmark for over five decades. Her abdication will mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the Danish monarchy.
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Photo credit www.euronews.com
Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark, announces her abdication live on TV.
