Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced during her customary New Year’s address that she will abdicate the throne on January 14, after 52 years.
“On 14 January 2024, 52 years after succeeding my beloved father, I will abdicate my duties as Queen of Denmark. I will leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” he said.
Who is Queen Margaret:
Margaret II (Danish: Dronning Margrethe II af Danmark, 16 April 1940) is the Queen of Denmark. She succeeded her father Frederik IX on 14 January 1972. With her ascension she became the first female queen of Denmark since 1412.
Today she is the only monarch in the world to hold the position of sovereign, following the death of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. She is now the longest-reigning monarch in Europe.
Margarita Alexandrini Thorhildur Ingrid was born on April 16, 1940 in Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen as the first child of the later Frederick IX and Ingrid of Sweden. Her father was the first-born son of the then Christian I, while her mother was the then only daughter of the later Gustavus VI Adolf of Sweden. Her birth occurred just one week after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark, which occurred on April 9, 1940.
He was baptized on 14 May 1940 in Holmen Church, Copenhagen. The Princess’s guardians were her great-grandfather Gustav V of Sweden, her great-grandfather Arthur, Duke of Connaught & Stradhern, her grandfather Christian I, her grandfather Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden, her uncle Cnut of Denmark, her uncle Gustavos Adolfos and her cousin Axel.
She was named Margarita to honor her grandmother Margaret of Connaught and Alexandrini for her grandmother Alexandrini of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Ingrid for her mother. Margarita, as she was until 1944 Princess of Iceland as well, was also given the Icelandic name Thorhildur.
When Margarita was four years old, in 1944, her first sister Benedicti was born. Benedict later married Richard of Schein-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, with whom she lives in Germany. Her second sister Anna Maria was born in 1946 and married the then Constantine II of Greece. On April 20, 1947, Christian I died and Margarita’s father ascended the throne as King Frederick IX.
Heir to the Throne
At the time of her birth, only men could ascend the throne of Denmark, due to changes in legislation introduced in the 1850s when the House of Glijksburg was chosen for the succession. Since she had no siblings, it was assumed that her uncle Cnut of Denmark would one day assume the throne.
Shortly after her father’s ascension to the throne, and after it was clear that Queen Ingrid would not have any more children, she would begin a process of changing the constitution so that Margaret could become heir to the throne. An important role in this revision was played by the popularity of Frederick IX and his daughters, but also by the upgrading of the role of women in everyday life in Denmark and worldwide.
The revision proposal, after passing through two parliaments, was then ratified by a referendum, held on 27 March 1953. The constitution’s new provisions on succession now allowed a woman to ascend the throne if she had no male brother, making Margarita her father’s successor.
On her eighteenth birthday, April 16, 1958, Margarita received a seat on the Danish State Council. He then presided over meetings of the Council when the King was absent.
In 1960 he traveled with the princesses of Sweden and Norway to the United States, where they visited Los Angeles, the Paramount Pictures studios, and met several celebrities, such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Elvis Presley.[6]
Education
Margaret completed her basic education at a private school in Copenhagen, graduating in 1959. She then spent a year at a girls’ boarding school in Hampshire, England, and during 1960-1961 studied prehistoric archeology at Girton College, Cambridge.
Between the years 1961 and 1962 he studied political science at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, in 1963 he attended courses at the University of Paris and in 1965 at the London School of Economics. In London he became a friend of the Society of Antiquaries. Queen Margarita is fluent in Danish, French, English, Swedish and German, and has a small knowledge of the Faroese language.
On 10 June 1967 Princess Margaret married a French diplomat, Henri de Lambord de Montpeissa, at Holmen Church in Copenhagen. Henry took the title His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Denmark.
Margaret gave birth to her first child on 26 May 1968. According to tradition, the Danish King is named either Frederik or Christian. Thus, Margarita, continuing the tradition, named her first son Frederico. Her second child was born on June 7, 1969 and was named Joachim.
Ascension to the throne
Shortly after his New Year’s address in 1972, King Frederick IX fell ill. Upon his death 14 days later, on 14 January 1972, Margaret succeeded him on the throne, as Denmark’s first female monarch, under the new succession law. She was proclaimed Queen on January 15 by the Prime Minister of Denmark at Kristiansborg Palace.
In her first address to the people, Margaret II said:
My beloved father, our King, is dead. The mission that my father carried out for almost 25 years now rests on my shoulders. I pray to God to give me help and strength to continue the heavy legacy. May the trust given to my father be given to me also.
The Queen’s main duties are to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figure at home. It hears foreign ambassadors and awards distinguished personalities with honors and medals. Participates in exhibitions, anniversaries, project openings and more.
As an unelected public figure, the Queen does not get involved in political and party matters. Despite the fact that she has the right to vote, she chooses not to exercise it in order to avoid being associated with a political party.
When after an election it is not possible to form a majority government, the Queen has an obligation to form a council with representatives of the elected political parties in order to form a coalition government or a government with parliamentary support from other parties.
When a new government is formed, it must be sworn in before the Queen. Then the laws passed by the parliament should be ratified by Royal Decrees. In practice, however, the Queen has no legislative powers.
The Queen, in addition to her duties in Denmark, is also Colonel of the Royal Welsh Regiment of Foot, an infantry regiment of the British Army, traditionally given to her family.
Ruby Jubilee
On January 14, 2012, Margaret II celebrated her Ruby Jubilee, the 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Celebration events included television interviews, tours, receptions and public gatherings.[16][17]
Family
Marguerite in 1967 married Henri de Lambord de Montpeissa and together they had two children: Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (1968-), who married Mary Donaldson and they had 4 children. Her second son was named Joachim who married Alexandra Manley with whom they had two children.
