Danish Queen Margrethe’s Abdication Shock, Scandal-Tainted Son Crown Prince Frederik To Reign

Royal family news reveals that Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II rocked the monarchy today with the news that she will abdicate on January 14, 2024, ending her 52-year reign. The monarch announced the stunning news in her traditional New Year’s Eve speech.

The 83-year-old queen will be succeeded by her eldest son, 55-year old Crown Prince Frederik. The monarch took over the throne in 1972, and she is the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death last year of Queen Elizabeth.

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe Announces Abdication

In her speech the queen noted that a recent back surgery “naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.”

She added “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.”

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe Abdicates

In Denmark, official power resides with the elected parliament and its government, just as in the UK. The monarch is expected to stay out of politics, representing the nation with traditional official duties such as state visits and national day events.

The unexpected news comes on the heels of scandalous headlines made by Crown Prince Frederik after being seen with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October. The tabloids made much of the fact that the prince’s wife, Australian-born Crown Princess Mary 51, was nowhere to be seen.

Nonetheless, the Daily Mail noted that the couple “appeared loved up as they headed into Aarhus cathedral on Sunday, December 24.”

The monarchy was also hit hard in 2022 when the queen “removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim.”

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe Steps Down

Margrethe was born on April 16, 1940 and ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, following the death of her father. Throughout her reign “tactful and yet creative” Margrethe has enjoyed broad support from Danish citizens. She was close to her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, with both being descendants of Queen Victoria.

In 1967 she married Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat and together they had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim. Prince Henrik died in 2018 at the age of 83.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with the world’s royal families. Come back here often for royal family news and updates.

Editorial credit: Michael W. Holm / Shutterstock.com