Denmark's Queen Margrethe II To Abdicate After 52 Years On Throne
In a New Year's Eve address that left Denmark in shock, Queen Margrethe II has announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years on the throne. The 83-year-old monarch, who is the world's only reigning queen and Europe's longest-serving current monarch following the death of the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II, will officially step down on January 14, exactly 52 years since she ascended to the throne.
The announcement was a surprise for the people of Denmark, with the queen's decision attributed to a period of reflection following back surgery earlier in the year. She said, "The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation."
Her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will succeed her as King of Denmark and oversee the constitutional monarchy, which includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Unlike the British royal tradition, there will be no formal crowning ceremony for the 55-year-old Crown Prince. Instead, his accession to the throne will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on the day.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen extended gratitude to Queen Margrethe, acknowledging her "lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom." As Denmark bids farewell to its iconic queen, the nation anticipates the new era under King Frederik X and his Australian-born wife, Princess Mary, who is set to become Denmark's Queen Consort.
