Today, Sunday, January 14, will forever be a historic date for the country of Denmark as their monarch Queen Margrethe abdicates the throne after over five decades.
Despite in the past saying she would remain Queen until the day she died, she announced on New Year’s Eve: “I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 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.”
Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark, told the Daily Mail: “It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now.
“He’s 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.”
Here Express.co.uk takes a look at all the biggest moments of the day as the Danes prepare themselves for the reign of King Frederik X and Queen Mary.
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will now become King and Queen, with his mother’s full blessing.
Frederik and Mary have four children of their own, Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
As he is now heir to the throne Prince Christian will henceforth be known as Crown Prince Christian of Denmark.
(Image: Getty)
