On New Years Eve last year, Margrethe II, the queen of Denmark, announced her abdication to the people of Denmark in her famous yearly New Year's speech, becoming the second ever Danish monarch to do so. Her abdication became effective on January 14th, ending her 52-year reign, the longest reign of any Danish monarch. The last time a monarch abdicated the throne was nearly 900 years ago in 1146, when King Eric III abdicated for unknown reasons.
In 2012 during an interview, when Queen Margrethe II was asked if she would ever abdicate she replied: "In this country we haven't gone in for that way of handing over. It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too". However, in her new year’s speech she stated that her “multiple ailments” and the extended amount of time that she has reigned has “taken its toll” on her over the years.
On the 14th, there was a Celebration at Christanbrogs Palace, at which Margrethe II signed the declaration of abdication. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Frederik acceded to the Danish throne. He is now known as King Frederik X, and his son, Christian has become the Crown Prince. At 15:00 CEST, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen proclaimed that "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated. Long live His Majesty King Frederik X!" as traditional by Danish custom. Then, the tens of thousands of witnesses to the proclamation followed with nine more cheers. Among these thousands of people were five of my own friends who live in Denmark. When I asked them how the ceremony was, one said, “it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend this event,” and another said, “it was a very loud event and there was high energy among the people.”
After the Queen’s abdication, many world leaders congratulated her, among them was the US president Joe Biden who thanked Queen Margrethe for "her enduring commitment to deepening the partnership between our two nations", and also stated that her "52-year reign spanned ten U.S. presidents, an era during which the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States moved closer together as security and trade partners, while the bonds of friendship between our people grew ever stronger."
Comments