Well, this is a big surprise. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe is abdicating, as of January 14th. She announced her abdication in a televised speech on New Year’s Eve. While Margrethe has spent the past eighteen months cleaning up various situations, I’m not sure people were expecting this to happen right now. It was back in September 2022 that Margrethe decided to send her younger son, Prince Joachim, away from Denmark and she also removed all of his children’s royal titles. She’s also been pulling Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary closer, and their oldest child, Prince Christian, just celebrated his 18th birthday in 2023. Maybe Queen Margrethe just felt like now was the time.
Queen Margrethe II, the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Denmark, has announced that she will abdicate in January 2024.
The news came during Margrethe’s New Year’s Eve speech on Sunday, when the Queen, 83, revealed that her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will succeed her and become the new King of Denmark.
“I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as queen of Denmark,” she said.
“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik,” she said, per Reuters.
Back in July, Queen Margrethe became the Scandinavian country’s longest-reigning Monarch, after she took over for her father Frederik IX in January 1972. Come January, she would have served 52 years as Denmark’s queen.
She’s 83 and she doesn’t want to do this anymore. I get that. Plus, by abdicating, she gets to act as a sort of emeritus queen in the background, advising King Frederik and Queen Consort Mary. Some people are already wondering (me, I’m some people) if this abdication has anything to do with the big sex scandal which broke a few months ago – Frederik carrying on a woman based in Spain, with the Spanish media covering every lurid detail. Interestingly enough, Mary seemed especially over it in December – she flew to Australia early with some of the children, and Frederik flew out later. There were rumors that Mary and Fred didn’t have a very pleasant time together in Oz, although they flew back to Denmark right before Christmas. Is the abdication a scheme to get Fred and Mary to stick it out?
King Charles is only eight years younger than Margrethe.
The Queen of Denmark, Margrethe ll, just announced that she’ll hand over the throne to her son, Kronprins Frederik, on the 14th of January 2024 during her New Years speech.
She’s currently the longest living Monarch, having reigned since 1972🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/0cnqZkFhDr
— Mathias Føns (@FonsDK) December 31, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen. Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered. EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236769, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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- Her Majesty The Queen Margrethe turns 80 on April 16, 2020. In connection with her birthday, the Royal House will publish a new art portrait series by photographer Per Morten Abrahamsen. Past, present and future. The portrait of the Queen, Crown Prince and Prince Christian is taken in the Red Salon in Christian IX’s mansion in Amalienborg. In the background of the picture on the left stands a bust of Frederick 9, so in fact four generations of past, present and future regenter gathered. EDITORIAL USE ONLY! / MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN BOOKS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS!,Image: 564236773, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: UK, USA and AUS ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stella Pictures / Stella Pictures / Avalon
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- Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik pay their respects to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, following her death, during her lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, in London, Britain, September 18, 2022.,Image: 724022711, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: SARAH MEYSSONNIER / Avalon
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- Queen Margrethe II The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, West Door, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724158816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Cahors, FRANCE – Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, accompanied by Rachel Amalric, director of the museum and Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure mayor of Cahors, inaugurates her exhibition “Margrethe, artist-Queen”, which brings together all of her artistic work presented at the Henri-Martin museum in Cahors, France, on August 17, 2022, a neighboring town to the Château de Caïx, property of the Danish royal family. Pictured: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark BACKGRID USA 17 AUGUST 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attending a Gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace for the Queen her 50th Jubilee of Government in Copenhagen. Where: Copenhagen, Denmark When: 11 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Christian of Denmark gala dinner to celebrate his 18th birthday at Christiansborg Palace Featuring: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Where: Copenhagen, Denmark When: 15 Oct 2023 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Letizia of Spain attending a state banquet at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Monday November 6, 2023. The Spanish royal couple is on a three-day state visit to Denmark. Photo by Stefan Lindblom/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Featuring: King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Queen Letizia of Spain Where: Copenhagen, Denmark When: 06 Nov 2023 Credit: Stefan Lindblom/Stella Pictures/Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
I’ve thought that Daisy has looked in pain for a long time. She looks very tense in the way she holds her body.
But in England is Kate counting her buttons and ordering more $2 shop wigs? Is she expecting a similar announcement from BP?
Charles won’t leave that throne until he’s dead. And if he lives as long as his parents or his grandmother, that may be a while. Thank God. Can you imagine a king William? The thought alone makes me shiver
Chloe, yup! I saw something about Charles abdication too after a short reign and it made me laugh. William wishes!!
The tradition of the demise of the crown is dwindling by the European monarchies. Britain and the Scandinavian kingdoms are the only ones that adhere to this practice. And now Denmark broke the rank.
But I do think that unless all the other Commonwealth realms become republics, the kings and queens of the United Kingdom will rule until they meet their very end, if only for the logistic reason that abdication and subsequent inheritance of the throne will require all Commonwealth realms’ partliaments’ legislation approval, and the more such laws are touch upon, the riskier for the monarchy that one of their realms might forgo all the hassle and go republic. And that simply will not do.
Charles did not savor enough of his kung power, is too selfish, spites william too much to be giving it up. He always got stolen his thunder even before Diana, ( with andrew being favorite). This king is not smart enough to see that staying in power makes the crown weaker and giving it to eggplant prince would be killing it anyway. Rock and a hard place…
She had major back surgery early last year which I think prompted this decision to abdicate.
I agree. There is no guarantee of a better outcome with spinal surgeries as treatment for pre-existing pain. Unfortunately often, there is little mitigation of pain post-op, and there is *always* the risk that pre-existing pain is worsened post-op by a surgery to improve it.
I’m of two minds on this. One, why should Charles step down after one year on the throne just to give Will a 30-50 year reign. But on the other hand I cannot wait to see the lazy duo take over and sink everything they do. I expect W&K reign to be one long failure like the Caribbean tour flop.
@Lulu you have a good point. Those two would get the monarchy abolished just by being too lazy to show up.
It’s very obvious that the Caribbean flop tour was the black islands giving W&K a bloody nose, for two possible reasons: one telling the royals to stay out of the islands’ republican debate and not convassing for the monarchy; two for avenging for the mistreatment of Meghan Markle.
By the tradition, the royals and the reception countries agree upon the touring programme and daily schedules, but I do not believe that the royals are going to be so micromanaging to know the details (such as the walls and railings separating the waving black children and W&K) of each stop, and that leaves room for the hosts to set up their own agenda, such as creating a narrative that is harder for the royals and monarchists to shake off. That is also the likely reason for W to deliver that rather petulate speech at the end of the tour by saying that each realms had the right to pursue their own destiny and the monarchy wasn’t going to interefere.
But I do find the incompetence of W&K and their coutiers. I mean how could they not see what was coming to them. Did they naively think that the black islanders in the Caribbean would simply look away after the mistreatment of MM? That also illustrated the laziness of W&K because if they had had more experience, they should have sent embassy people to vet the venues more closely and shouldn’t have had the assumption that the islanders would do everything for them.
SMH.
Hi, I have said it before and I will say it again a million times, for Caribbean islands, I’m sure they saw the horrible treatment of Meg and were influences but a MUCH BIGGER STORY WAS THE WINDRUSH SCANDAL. Please stop making it all about Meghan when she is symptomatic of how Britain has always treated both its Black citizens and Black commonwealth nations. Please. I beg of you.
She had back surgery in the spring and it’s taken longer for her to recover than she expected. She’s always been a pretty energetic monarch and Fred’s in his 50s, she probably wants to make sure he gets a few couple of decades where he been be fully active as King – no point waiting until he’s knocking 70
Also, their oldest child and heir is now 18 and can reasonably be expected to begin the ramp up to full Crown Prince duties, and their youngest is 12 which seems to be a reasonable age to deal with the familial changes inherent in their father taking up the throne. And Mary and Frederik are old enough that more kids seems…unlikely.
Daisy might be able to do another 5 to 10 years of Queening just fine but it does seem like a decent time all around to make the move. Semi-retiring in ones’ 80s seems like a good idea.
The better solution is to abolish, not abdicate. It’s amazing that so many people think that having “royalty” is normal, acceptable, ok, even desirable. It’s not, it never was, and people need to wake up.
Yeah, Josephine. I thought the Danish totals was skating on thin ice. I don’t think Frederick is that popular. They keep trying to make Mary popular but they may abolish or at the least find a new royal line. I think a lot of these European royal lines would do better to find new branches and noble people.
@Macky,
You very obviously don’t live in Denmark. Fred and especially Mary is very popular here – and there isn’t really much of a republican sentiment so abolishment is not on the horizon.
I have no idea where you get your info but you’re completely wrong.
Lol, I don’t think so! Charles just got the job she will have to wait after all her name is Waity Katy!
I’m sure Incandescent is hoping DSDad follows suit.
Bad dad chuck and his horse didn’t wait this long for the top chairs to give them up this fast to wank and buttons. Plus you know that wank would make both chuck and camellia life hell should they step aside for him.
Wills wants the power without actually having to be King. And Keen would find it hard to keep doing nothing, using the children as an excuse, if she was Queen. No, they want Chuckles and Queen Sidepiece to reign for a good ten years, or at least until George is in university. If Chuckles stays healthy, he could reign until he’s in his 90s.
Kate will find another excuse this time to help George prepare for university exams
Prince Incandescent doesn’t even know how to be a decent Prince of Wales, I don’t think he could ever run a Regency like the one his father did during the last few years of Queen Elizabeth’s life.
Also that header photo cracks me up every time because it looks like they just called the kid over and took the photo as he stepped inside the room.
Margrethe has had a lot of health issues – she had major back surgery last year. I think at 83 and with her health not at its best she knew it was time to step down. And much respect to her for recognizing her limitations and stepping down – unlike some other monarchs.
Agreed and I know who you are referring to 😉
It’s quite normal now in many monarchies to step down when one gets old.
The oldest kings in medieval times made it into their sixties. Now most make it at least until their eighties, making their successors all old people as well.
By the way, I hope all of you look into the career of Margaret I. She is little known beyond Scandinavia, but she was ruling Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden in the Middle Ages and was even in her own time widely recognized as a very capable monarch.
Margrethe I was a great political mind. One of the most capable medieval monarchs (though she was never crowned, she elected on her own merit after her son, the young king, died suddenly). She was the architect of the Kalmar Union that united Denmark, Sweden and Norway for a while. Pretty impressive.
One of the criticism of Charles about his mother was that she needed to step down while he was still young. I wonder if he will look at this and his own former complaints and decide to step down while his heir is relatively young. My money is on “of course not”.
No way will Charles abdicate.
Charles messed up his first marriage.and he has made some bad decisions. Then the way he treats harry and Meghan. The queen would not step down knowing the weakness of her son
Good point.
She might have stepped down if she knew a more capable or at least a somewhat more neutral figure was about to succeed her.
Moot point, but I wonder if she would’ve stepped down for Andrew.
Dee if Andrew were born first he would not have been able to marry ferg ie. He also might have still fallen in with likes of Epstein.
Well, Margarethe was queen for 50 years while Charles has only had one year as king. He ain’t giving it up. It’s waity wiliam now.
Waity William…love it!
After all that money they just spent on their fancy hat party?? I should hope not!! He needs to live a really, really long time to get good value per pound spent (I know, I know, not even possible with this lot).
He won’t. This is all he’s got. (All is a lot so why would he give it up?)
The Khate stans are wailing that she will have to bow to Mary now, but at the same time calling them soul sisters and so much alike. It’s quite amusing reading their desperation on twitter.
Can you explain to me what kate stans beef is with (soon to be) queen Mary?
Mary will now outrank Kate, so Kate will have to bow to Mary. It’s driving Kate’s fans crazy, so they are making up the “soul sisters” schtick.
But didn’t Mary always outrank Kate? Mary has always been married to the de facto crown prince, while Kate had been married to the third in line for over decade. William has only been the de facto heir for a year now. Kate has always been the lowest on the totem pole in terms of royal rank. And it shouldn’t be shocking that she’ll be one of the last to be queen, if she gets there, as well as the oldest of her age group too.
Chloe – I think the beef is that deep down, they feel that Mary is everything they wish Kkkeen was and it eats them up. Mary is beautiful, more accomplished pre-marriage, more capable post-marriage, harder working, more beloved by the public, loved and respected by the Danish royal family. And until recently, seemed to be loved and respected by her husband.
Maybe also it’s that when they first met very early into the Wailses marriage for that UNICEF(?) event (where Kkkeen refused to eat the peanut paste, prompting a million stories she was pregnant), it was supposed to be like, oh, the brunette twinsies, they’ll be besties. But it quickly became apparent that Kkkeen is a lazy do-nothing who can’t string a complete sentence together and so doesn’t measure up to Mary in any way.
There is also some huge contingent from the a pretty racist royal messageboard site (I don’t know if I’m allowed to say the name here), that hates Mary with a passion (for what reason is never clear). I used to read that site before Meghan (after Meghan, it became clear how racist and awful they were) and they almost all hated Mary with a bizarre intensity. And I never understood it at all.
I know which site you mean. I had no idea who Mary was but they really hated her. They also disliked Kate until Meghan arrived and then there was a 180. But they still disliked Mary.
Which makes no sense – Kate would have always curtseyed to Mary/Frederik unless Mary and Fred were in GB, because they’ve been in their roles as Crown Prince/Princess longer than William and Kate have been Prince/Princess of Wales
The general rule is that royals bow/curtsey to those of higher rank. Those who are of ‘Royal Highness ‘ rank bow/curtsey to those of ‘Majesty ‘ rank. They do not bow/curtsey to people of the same rank as themselves. It makes no difference whether a Royal Highness is a Crown Prince or is also an Earl or a Duke. Kate has never curtsied to Mary but once Frederick is King and Mary is his Queen Consort Kate will be expected to curtsey to them and William will bow.
In practice the UK royal family do not bow or curstsey among themselves except to acknowledge the King and Queen Consort. Those members of the royal family who have no titles do not bow/curtsey to the titled royals apart from the reigning monarch and spouse.
William and Kate are an unimpressive duo on the world stage. UK press attempts to present them as leading figures among European royalty is farcical. Frederick and Mary’s ascent will put the Dolittles in their place
What is their obsession with bowing down to others? That is one of their big things about Meghan and her having to bow to Kate. I personally wouldn’t bow down to any of them.
Inferiority complex and in the case of Meghan, racism too. They live through these people, that’s why they’re obsessed with it, and in Meghan’s place, they see her potentially bowing to Kate as her being put “in her place”. (That’s never going to happen tho).
I don’t keep up with the Danish Royal families fans to know if it’s an obsession for them, but for the Kate fans it’s all they have. That’s why they want/wanted Meghan to come back to so many events so she’d have to bow in public (or so they think). Putting these women side by side and measuring their accomplishments as human beings they know from a professional point of view Kate doesn’t compare, and so they cling to “But Catherine will be Queen!!!” With both hands. Not realizing that that means absolutely nothing to most people.
This whole curtsey and bow obsession is anachronistic and degrading. The twitter trolls see it as a way to enforce hierarchy and put women in their place. Its outdated. This discussion never happens with men. It’s disgusting and sexist.
I wonder how many of these fans would like it if they had to bow down to their sibling or in-laws.
Meghan has never curtsied to Kate since she joined the royal family.
Yeah, that’s a weird obsession to have. Shows that a lot of them really get off on the “BOW DOWN” superiority fantasy and using hierarchy as a weapon.
Frederik as crown prince “outranked” (in precedence) William as “the heir’s heir” and even when William became CP because precedence works on how long you have been in post (see: seating for wedding in Jordan). But they were both “Royal Highnesses” so the same level, no bows/curtseys required. Meghan is still HRH Princess Henry, The Duchess of Sussex so the idea of “having to curtsey to Kate” if true, is British weirdness.
I don’t think anyone was expecting this. She has been in poor health for years, but she has also said in the past that she will remain queen until she falls off the stick, or something like that (I assumed that was a Danish expression). Her back pain must have progressed to the point where she can’t physically fufill her duties any more, so maybe she wants to ride off into the sunset and spend time with her fellow-widowed royal sisters. I do hope she isn’t really abdicating to “save” her son’s marraige, because “if you stay married I’ll let you be King and Queen” doesn’t seem like a healthy relationship therapy strategy to me.
Margaret also said in about 2019 (which is pretty recent) that she would abdicate if her health forced her to. I knew about her surgery and the regency lasted months due to that, but reading other people’s observations about her looking still in pain and unwell I think it’s really “just” her health.
And it does seem like she has been working for about a year towards abdication by setting plans and changes in motion. Fred’s affair became publicly known very very recently and he’s rumoured to be a serial cheater anyway. He ditched security (only?) this time. She wouldn’t abdicate a few weeks after a scandal concerning her heir, that’d be ridiculous and a consort doesn’t have that much power (“make me queen or I go!” “well, bye bish then!”)
The abdication thing should become standard for all monarchies, what point is there to hold on to this role and “job”, till 80ish or 90ish, when your peers have been in retirement for decades. With most people getting so old it makes sense. Why not devote your last years or decades to your enjoyment whilst still being there to perhaps guide the next generation(s), instead of holding on to a title and role for what? The glory of history books?
Even in the UK it was rumoured for years that it was a de facto regency, even publicly it was regularly announced how Charles is going to take over duties for this and that. Liz was officially left with little to do and in truth, with hindsight what we now know of her health the last few years, it’s doubtful how much of that she even did. Saying “suck it, I quit!” would’ve been better for everyone, but well, I suppose Liz got her record of longest reigning monarch and then decided to say “toodles, morons, so long!”
It was also very hard for Liz to simply quit. To quit, a succession law will be initiated in Parliament. And it is going to be done in Britain alone. All the other 14 Commonwealth Realms are sovereign and their parliaments too will need to pass respective succession laws of their own. Sometimes it is hard to do so politically.
Such disgusting yellow teeth
I think the main reason these people hang on so long is that they do actually believe in that whole ‘appointed by God’ thing and that abdicating would be going against Gods ineffable plan.
They aren’t really HIDING the cult thing.
Count me among “some people”. My first thought when I heard this was to wonder whether she thought Frederick needed less time on his hands to travel to Spain. And then my second thought was Charles is only eight years younger than her. But he looks ten years older. He’ll never abdicate, no matter what happens.
I am also “some people”. I immediately thought that this was the price for Mary to stay and not blow the whole thing up.
Yep, Mary is now trapped and can’t leave like Charlene. Shrewd move.
I don’t think she’s trapped like Charlene. I think she could leave if she wanted to, but just doesn’t want to. I’ll bet she’s known about Freddie’s cheating ways for years and didn’t care until it became so public. Plus Mary seems more loved by the Danish public and more invested in the country, whereas Charlene has always just been seen (IMO) as the woman who agreed to give the official heirs.
And I’ll bet (hopefully) that Mary was smart enough to have her prenup updated for any/every affair and change in her rank. So she’s got a lot invested in being queen. I predict they’ll just continue to get along fine in public but do their own thing work-wise. Mary seems like she’ll be a busy and active queen, unlike Camzilla and future Kkkeen (if she’s not the ex-PoW by then).
FC, I don’t see Mary being trapped. If she wants to be Queen, she’ll stay. If she decides to go, then she’ll go. This is 2024 and although it may be a big deal if a divorce happens, it won’t be long before something else takes its place in the media. There’s always the possibility that Fred may be the one wanting the divorce. Life is always interesting.
The Europeans really donot believe in brushing their teeth and smile so proudly showing the years of plaque
While I was surprised to hear this, I feel like looking back there were signs she was getting her ducks in a row for this. She’s 82, can’t blame her at this point.
Joachim has been living abroad since 2019. In 2022 it was announced that he was moving from Paris to DC. As for the Queen, my guess is she’s not in great health, which she sited as her reason for abdicating, but I also think she wants to ensure that Frederick doesn’t make a mess of it as King.
While she’s 82 and has health issues this is unexpected – from what I can tell from the Danish media they too think this is an attempt to keep Mary in the family as she apparently is very fond of her and thinks she’s a big asset to the Danish RF.
For what its worth I don’t think Mary would have left him after that story broke – she’s in it till the end and she’s now getting her prize. Mumbles must be incandescent over this as she’s going to have to wait at least another 20 years for her turn on the big chair (if she stays married long enough).
I wonder who from the BRF will go to the Coronation – will Chuck attend theirs as they did his?!?!
There won’t be a coronation, just a proclamation that Fred is king.
Exactly! Coronations were done away with when absolutism was abandoned. That ceremony simply has a negative symbolic value in the specific historical context of the constitutional monarchy in Denmark. The last one was in 1840.
I’m pretty sure the Danes (and other monarchies in Europe) no longer have big, fancy coronations. It’s basically just “effective (insert date), my son will be King”. They might have a formal reception of some sort, but no eye-wateringly expensive ceremony with religious trappings. It’s kind of a stereotype, but a true one: the Scandinavians are more pragmatic and egalitarian than that. The popularity of their monarchies might not survive the public being forced to pay for that crap.
It really is just the Windsors who have stuck with the whole coronation shyte. Everyone else simplified and has at best brief “ceremonies” (if a crown is used, it’s on a cushion next to the monarch) or just proclamations and then a gala dinner. That’s it. Still fancy, but much easier and cheaper.
The one thing I salute Will for is his decision to not have an investiture. I think Charles is the only one who had one? But even if not, it’s an unnecessary and expensive ceremony for what?
Vik, I think if Willnot has had the opportunity, he would have taken it. But according to some titbit news I read at the time after the Queen died, the Welsh people went to a newspaper (I think it was either the Times or Telegraph) to say that Will should not expect the Welsh people to host a POW investiture like what his father got.
The Dutch do a huge formal event with foreign guests but it’s an investiture, not a coronation (the crown is displayed, but not placed on the monarch’s head).
The last Norwegian event was also an investiture – formal church service – but I don’t think they had foreign guests.
Other Euro monarchies do some sort of proclamation/swearing in that’s mostly for in country guests. (As I explain to people who mostly know the British, “Constitutional monarchies do their things in different ways”.
The Japanese Emperor had a coronation event – which was several days and had A-List foreign attendees. I don’t know other non-European monarchies well enough to comment offhand about their ceremonies.
Health issues definitely factored into this decision but I think about how Charles cheating on Diana hurt his reputation She probably thought back to that and the fact that Liz probably held on so long due to her son’s horrible reputation. She probably didn’t want that. It gives her a break and her son his promotion before he completely destroys his reputation and gives him something to do rather than him looking for someone to do.
Well it was a surprise! But she obviously has health issues and kuddos to her for recognizing her limits and deciding to abdicate… I don’t think she did it to silence Fred’s scandal (it’s not like it’s the first time) or to ensure Mary’s presence in the royal family… this decision must be on cards for almost a year (right after her back surgery)… the decision about her grandchildren titles from Joachim was definitely a part of the plan. Side note: I can’t believe that Frederick was so careless that he was caught in a scandal knowing what was coming…!
I think Margrethe quit because of her bad health.
By abdicating she’s free to pursue her hobbies if she has a good day, or be lazy if not. Had she remained as a head of state, she wouldn’t have had a choice, as there are meetings, briefings – even if it’s all just pro forma, and inconsequential in the greater “world” of Danish politics.
That said, Charles can’t abdicate unless the BRF want to pay taxes on everything they own – and thus make their ill-gotten riches a matter of public record. Things only stay tax-free/-exempt if the successor inherits from the predecessor.
So poor Bulliam the Incandescent will have to wait until it’s his turn, unless he conveniently finds a pillow somewhere. But while the UK is worse off with C III because he’s more stubbornly conservative as a HoS than his colonial-remnant mother, lazy, ragey Willnot Wails of Keensington Palace would still be a lot worse because he’s uninformed, incurious and of limited intelligence and too entitled to seek help.
Daisy is not abdicating because of an affair allegation. Soon to be Fred X (Frederik X) can carry on with the woman while on the throne. Mary may finally become queen consort and get the perks that come with the title, she will still be.expected to tolerate side chicks in silence. Not a worthwhile trade off IMO.
Congrats to Queen Margrethe choosing to abdicate for her health and the future of her royal family. I honestly believe that she “thinks differently” than most monarchs. She’s a creative (illustrator of Tolkien, set designer, costume designer), she’s changed certain aspects of the monarchy, she’s had ill health, she gave up a chain-smoking habit last year…I think she’s the type who’s open to change if she believes that it can improve things and that more than anything her son has done with anyone in Spain informed this decision. She’s close to the Scandinavian and Dutch royals, and the latter has a history of abdication due to old age. Her son has taken on “modern causes” like climate change. She has some control over how to exit and pass the torch. The Danish monarchy is fairly popular at the moment. I have think this all combined with ill health led her to decide to step down.
She seemed to be getting the larger org in shape for this & I bet saw the freak show in the UK & decided to get ahead of all of it starting a couple years ago, incl abdication. She’s decisive & public about decisions and discreet prior to that. No ‘royal sources’ bs!
Right, that’s one thing that struck me about the announcement, there were no leaks!! Could you imagine the Brits keeping something of this magnitude quiet?!
Congratulations Daisy!! I hope that your retirement will be filled with art, creativity and that you enjoy!
I don’t believe that the “scandal” had anything to do with her decision, it would have been in the works for far too long, if anything it was a minor bump. I believe that she’s suffering physically more than she’s letting on, is tired and now wants time to do the things that she enjoys. There’s nothing wrong with her doing that and asking her 50+ year old son to step up and take over.
I know people who have met her when she was on an engagement – and my friend said that Daisy was in visible pain (and that was a few years ago). She also had a large operation – and that likely has some consequences at her age. My father had a knee replacement at 80 and he wasn’t really the same after. Less energetic, etc.
I’ve always thought abdication was a good idea. I’ve seen the recording of her proclamation and accession speech, which was the day after her beloved father died – and she just looked so crushed. He had a close relationship with her father. Now her son can start his now job without grieving at the same time.
Oof, THAT may be a major piece of the puzzle that most of us are overlooking here. She knows how hard it is to take up the throne because of the death of a parent and she doesn’t want to put her own child through that.
I think she took Elizabeth’s death very hard. Having a front row seat to Charles and Camilla and William and Kate behavior at the funeral, she saw the future of her own monarchy and decided to step aside, while still able to be present and a mentor to both Fred and Mary, still exerting some control. Maybe she views the BRF as a sinking ship and is trying to avoid that outcome for Denmark.
Libra, I think after her health that this makes sense. She could see the benefit of letting two people in their 50s be the face of the Monarchy, while she retires and can enjoy her time as long as her health permits.
WanK should spend a decade or so creating REAL projects that will have lasting meaning. We know they won’t do that–or they’re incapable of doing it.
First abdication in Denmark since Erik the 3rd in 1146. HUGE surprise but it’s a good thing I think. People are living longer and it’s not really reasonable to expect monarchs to carry on into their late 80s and 90s. hopefully she’ll be able to have a few years doing her art and enjoying the grandkids
Will wants to be Kingy but not be bothered or tied down to statutory work duties so he will just have to WAIT his turn as Chuck ain’t going to abdicate for him. Late Queen took Will to Scotland in a last ditch effort to imbue some sense of duty in him, much much too late. Lad wants all the glitter and glory of Kingship without making any effort at bread and butter engagements.
We will never be privy to the reasons, but I am glad for her whatever they are .She’s 83 and deserves a rest, and I expect she will still be doing a great deal but at her own pace. Lord knows I’ve slowed down as I hit my 70s and I can’t imagine what it must be like to have all that monarch stuff to do regardless of how you feel.
I’ve always seen her as a very ‘professional’ monarch if that’s the right word, an excellent role model. The other thing I’m always amazed at is her dress sense. I hope I can look that good when I’m 83. Sure I don’t have the money she has, but Kate has shown that money doesn’t buy you dress sense or class.
This was a bit of a surprise announcement, as Daisy was in the “In it to the end” camp. Like Elizabeth, she had historical reasons for feeling that way – in Daisy’s case, the constitution got changed FOR HER.
But I think it’s a combination – seeing Elizabeth (who she admired so greatly) fading in her advanced years, her own poor health (the back surgery), a desire to be around for the early stages of King Fred, seeing Christian turn 18, seeing Charles flailing after his loooong apprenticeship, and a bit of damage control after Fred got busted. She can spend her limited energy doing what she WANTS to do and that should help her out.
Agree, there are most likely several reasons – but I do think that her health is the biggest one.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the King of Norway also abdicates soon. He has been in very poor health the last few years.
It’s been clear that Queen Margrethe has been dealing with pain for some time, even with accommodations like using a chair to sit during while in a receiving line. If you see the exits from Westminster Abbey after Prince Philip’s memorial service, there was a screw-up where the foreign royals were left standing there for a very long time because their transportation wasn’t ready while the minor royals (Kents, Gloucesters, Phillips, Tindalls) walked past them to get into their waiting cars. Poor Daisy looked uncomfortable standing for so long and at one point, it looked like she had to lean against the Abbey doors to relieve the pressure. I think watching the final year of Queen Elizabeth must have made an impact.
What amazes me is how well the palace kept this under wraps. There were no leaks! The Danes run a tight ship! And you know she had to inform her family and government ministers ahead of time. She also informed the Swedish royal family ahead of time (King Carl Gustaf is her first cousin) and they did not leak anything either. You know that if she gave Charles a head’s up, Camilla would have immediately blabbed it to someone at the Daily Fail.
That’s appalling, and shows that the BRF has absolutely no class. If that were me (minor royal) I would’ve immediately given up my car especially to somebody like Daisy. How rude and classless do you have to be to walk past somebody in discomfort? They disgust me, not just because they are without any manners, consideration, or class, but because they feel they are so much better than the rest of us. I wouldn’t pee on any of them if they were on fire.
“She’s 83 and doesn’t want to do this anymore”– not necessarily!
It is also in your countries’ (companies, families, stakeholders) interest to actively delegate and remove yourself from a task, if you feel that someone else can do it as good or better than you or if you are not willing or able to give as much as you think is necessary.
Not at all bad…. it is a bit of tradition that royalty simply dies on the throne, but is that the best thing?
That brings to mind another thing: women know when to stop, more than men do. Women “quit” and “abdicate” but this isnt a failure. Its just that we know when enough is enough and when we have achieved all that we set out to, not without limitations. Men are more likely to go to extremes (earn and keep 44 billion dollars, wtf) and then get praised and cheered for being irrationally single minded and overdoing things– like that is somehow the appropriate standard— really, *is it though*?
So, Daisy got her version of “A slimmed down Monarchy” taken care of, then pissed off to relax. Good for her. She yanked the big titles from the 2nd sons kids bc they were using those titles to make $$ in modeling, etc.
As if I’m buying items bc some “Prince or Count” endorses it. F.O. I have my own mind.
Charles has been talking/planning that for decades and yet now he drags Andrew back to the sidelines.
You know Chuck is gonna try to ease Andrew and even Fergie back. Just like Cam rehabbed her image for decades. I still dislike her a ton!
King Charles has spent 70/72 years waiting to be KING of UK.
He is NOT abdicating ever.
All this royalty/monarchy/Billionaire garbage makes me depressed.
OOH, I like to snark about BRF, bad tv sop opera that they are, in reality Down with the Monarchy. Tax the 1% ASAP.
This is all such nonsense. Abolish every monarchy.
She’s got such a lovely kind face, and I wish her every happiness in her retirement.
That’s my birthday! It’s a milestone one for me. Should I take this as a good omen? Hopefully yes. Maybe it means I need to find a new job. Lol.