Queen Margrethe II, Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch, has announced her abdication set for January 2024. In her New Year’s Eve speech, the 83-year-old Queen revealed that her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will succeed her.
“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. I leave the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik,” she stated.
Crown Prince Frederik to succeed as King of Denmark following Queen Margrethe II’s abdication.
Reflecting on her reign, she mentioned the impact of time and health issues, referencing her recent extensive back surgery. The procedure prompted her to consider the future and the transition of responsibilities to the next generation.
The Danish Royal House shared her announcement on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the support received over the years. Margrethe’s reign, which began in January 1972, marked her as the first woman to inherit the Danish throne following the 1953 Act of Succession. Her decision to abdicate follows the death of her husband, Prince Henrik, in 2018.
Upon the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, Queen Margrethe II became Europe’s only ruling female monarch.
