Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has announced she will abdicate her role early in 2024, a move that comes as a surprise, concluding her reign of more than five decades.
Margrethe, aged 83, has revealed in her traditional New Year's Eve broadcast on Danish television that she will relinquish the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
She mentioned that undergoing back surgery in February 2023 led her to contemplate the future.
“In two weeks time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years,” she said.
“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 added.
“In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery,” she said. “Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.
“I have decided that now is the right time,” she said.
“On 14th January, 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.
Queen Margrethe II ascended to the throne on January 14, 1972, succeeding King Frederik IX upon his passing.
In January, Prince Frederik is set to ascend to the throne as His Majesty King Frederik X, according to a statement from the office of the Danish Prime Minister.
His wife, Princess Mary, originally from Australia, will assume the title of Queen Consort, marking the first time an Australian has achieved this position.
The couple's romantic story began in a Sydney bar during the 2000 Olympics, capturing the hearts of many as Princess Mary transitioned into Danish royalty.
Princess Mary's journey to royalty is anticipated to draw significant attention from her birthplace in Hobart, Tasmania, where she previously worked as a real estate sales executive before her encounter with the prince.
On January 14, following a Council of State meeting, the Prime Minister, Mette Frederikson, is slated to officially announce the throne transition at Christiansborg Castle.
Post-abdication, Queen Margrethe will retain the title of Her Majesty.
Under Denmark's constitution, the royal family has a limited role, with legislative power vested in parliament. Nonetheless, the monarchy fulfills a crucial ambassadorial function and ratifies new laws.
According to Reuters, Margrethe has consistently enjoyed widespread popularity among the Danish people throughout her life.
