Queen Margrethe II grew to become the primary Danish monarch to abdicate in almost 900 years on Sunday
Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch, Margrethe II, formally abdicated the throne on Sunday afternoon as hundreds gathered in Copenhagen to witness the royal succession to her eldest son, who’s now King Frederik X.
Margrethe shocked the Scandinavian nation on New 12 months’s Eve when she declared her intention to relinquish the crown after greater than 5 many years as Queen – changing into the primary Danish monarch to step down in almost 900 years. Her abdication comes 52 years to the day after she assumed the crown following the dying of her father, King Frederik IX.
The 83-year-old cited well being points as the explanation for her historic resolution, which got here a number of months after she underwent again surgical procedure final February.
“The Queen has been right here and he or she has been on the throne for greater than 50 years,” Danish royal skilled Thomas Larsen advised the Related Press forward of Sunday’s abdication. “She is a particularly revered and common determine, so individuals hadn’t anticipated this and so they have been in shock.”
Margrethe signed her abdication within the presence of Danish lawmakers at a state council assembly on Sunday afternoon, after which Frederik – previously the nation’s Crown Prince – formally grew to become King.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen subsequently proclaimed Frederik as Denmark’s latest sovereign from the balcony of the Christiansborg Palace within the capital, the seat of presidency, parliament and the supreme courtroom. Hundreds witnessed the proclamation from the sq. beneath.
Frederiksen had been unaware of Margrethe’s resolution till simply earlier than the announcement, whereas Frederik was knowledgeable simply three days beforehand, in line with Danish newspaper Berlingske.
4 weapons stationed at Copenhagen harbor fired three salvos of 27 rounds to mark the succession. In contrast to within the UK, the place King Charles III changed his mom Queen Elizabeth II following her dying, there’s to be no coronation ceremony.
Regardless of stepping down, Margrethe retains her royal title – which means that the nation could have two Queens, as Frederik’s Australian-born spouse turns into Queen Mary. Their eldest son Christian, 18, turns into Denmark’s new Crown Prince and the inheritor to the throne.
The royal couple take the throne at a time of sturdy public assist for the monarchy. A current ballot carried out after Margrethe’s abdication announcement discovered that 82% of Danes consider that Frederik will carry out nicely as King, whereas 86% had a equally optimistic view of Mary.
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