Danish Queen Margrethe Abdicates In Time For New Year

In a surprise move, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has announced she will abdicate her role early in 2024, after a reign lasting more than five decades.

Margrethe, 83, will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. I Photo: Casper Tybjerg, Aalborg Stift Flickr

Margrethe, 83, will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, she said in her traditional New Year’s Eve speech broadcast on Danish television. AnneClaire Stapleton reported for CNN.

She cited back surgery in February 2023 as influencing her thoughts about the future. “In two weeks’ time, I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years,” she said.

“Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody – also on me! Time takes its toll, and the number of ‘ailments’ increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past,” she added.

“In February this year, I underwent extensive back surgery,” she said.

“Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. I have decided that now is the right time,” she said.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem