Denmark’s Queen Margrethe announces she is stepping down next month

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II announced in a live television address Sunday that on Jan. 14, 52 years to the day since she took the crown. She will abdicate the throne to her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, 55. The longest reigning living monarch in Europe and Denmark’s longest sitting monarch, 83 year old Margrethe made the surprise announcement during her traditional New Year’s Eve speech from Christian IX’s Palace at Amalienborg.

The seed for the decision was planted when the queen had back surgery early in 2023, 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,” she was quoted as saying by Reuters. “I have decided that .” Margrethe is one of , admired for her warmth and her talents.

She was known for venturing out with little or no escort to walk the streets of Copenhagen. Margrethe traveled not only throughout Denmark but also logged regular visits to the semi independent territories of Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. In her speech Sunday, she thanked the public for their support as she served in the nonpolitical, largely ceremonial role.

Margrethe’s royal line dates back to Viking King Gorm the Old, who lived until 958. Calling her “the epitome of Denmark,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked Margrethe for her service. “On behalf of the entire population, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the kingdom,” Frederiksen said in a statement.

“Although the duty and position of regent has been , it is still difficult to understand that the time has now come for a change of throne. Many of us have never known another regent.”.