Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, who has reigned for 52 years, has announced an unexpected abdication live on TV in a new year address to her nation.
Queen Margrethe has been billed the world’s only current queen regnant and the longest-serving current female head of state. But the 83-year-old has dropped a bombshell that she plans to pass on the responsibility as monarch.
She will abdicate the throne in just a fortnight’s time, on January 14, marking exactly 52 years to the day since she became queen. Prince Frederik, her eldest son, will take the role as King after Margrethe steps down.
The decision has been dubbed as “unexpected”, and will have come as a shock to the nation. But the Queen made clear it was her ill-health which was part of the reason for giving up her responsibilities.
The monarch had undergone back surgery back in February last 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.”
“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.”
This is a breaking story, more to come.
