Queen Margrethe 2nd of Denmark Abdication

[Enko]

I have just read the queens New Year speech (I am Danish living in the UK) and the queen will abdicate on the 14th January 52 years after her ascending the throne.

I am very moved. She is the only queen I remember of Denmark and currently the only reigning female Monarch. This will change as the next generations come through but not in Denmark where the next 2 are male.

Not great timing considering the 'affair' rumours so Frederick and Mary have to put grins on their faces.
There'll inevitably be questions as to whether KC3 will do the same, but I expect he will stick to his mother's approach with PoW acting as regent if/when necessary.

Why do you think she has done this enko? Was it complete surprise?
is this normal practice in Denmark?

She seems to have struggled a lot with her mobility after her back operation.

It’s explains the suddenness of the title situation with Joachim’s children if she had this in mind for a while

I don't think King Charles would consider it until Prince Louis is an adult/ school leaver at the earliest which would make King Charles approx 87-88

I admire her - hopefully she's shown the UK royal family that it's important to have a life outside being royal if you're a monarch. When the Danish Club became part of the Arts Club in London, I remember a doorman telling me with admiration of the way she came downstairs for a cigarette... 😂

Totally unexpected - the very short time between abdication and announcement has left me wondering whether there are health issues at play. I wonder how this has interacted with the Frederik rumours.

Wow, Queen Mary! How exciting!

It;s questionable whether he'd consider it at all. Abdication was a very dirty world for the RF when the late queen was alive and Charles gives every sign of thoroughly enjoying being king.

Very unexpected but yes I suspect health issues she has never been truly well after her back operation earlier in 2023. With her grandson becoming 18 the following of the monarch was somewhat resolved so I guess it seemed a good time.

It is very unexpected I do not recall it ever occurring in Danish History.
I did wonder when Queen Elizabeth died as it was clear that was a hard moment for Queen Margrethe.

I wonder if she will do like the Dutch and become Princess Margrethe.

I don’t think he’d consider it given how much time he spent with QEQM and how strong her views were on the abdication

I also don’t think he or William would want William to be king when he has primary school age children

Im glad she's putting her health first but it is a sad moment in history. I don't think KC3 will follow suit. HLMQE2 has set a precedent to serve until the very end. But he is his own person and could surprise us.

How sad, I'd always assumed she was there til the end. Such a talented woman as well.

I also don’t think he or William would want William to be king when he has primary school age children

Especially as Charles has experience of that - being the young child whose parent is monarch and having much less time for her children.

So did I @AnnaMagnani

I wouldn't be surprised if King Charles abdicated in 5-6 years when 81 and Louis would be in secondary school then. I don't think Camilla likes being Queen but does it for Charles. I think he'll abdicate in 5-6 years so Camilla doesn't have to carry on working into her 80's.

Good for her! I hope she can enjoy retirement from being monarch. I'm pleased she's done it before she seems to frail or loses mental capacity, should that happen.

I agree with pp, health and grandson turning 18 may well have been significant factors.

As for the Brits... I don't see it coming for a long time. Charles is only just getting started and William has a very young family.

I think he'll abdicate in 5-6 years so Camilla doesn't have to carry on working into her 80's.

Camilla could retire as Prince Philip did. I don't think Charles will abdicate.

Just seen this on my Facebook feed. Have soft spot for the queen. Was at St martins college Lancaster in the 90s and our main hall was named after her.

I don’t think he’ll give it less than ten years but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d consider abdicating for William before he dies because he now knows how lonely it is to become the monarch without being able to consult the only other person who knows what it feels like and knows everything about the role.

It must be hard doing all the initial swearing to the state stuff and signings while you are deep in grief.

Much better if possible to have your predecessor on hand to support you - then you can separate the death of your parent to a different time and occasion.

I think mre likely that what will happen is what happened toward the end of the late queen's reign - Charles (or in this case William) stepping up to do some royal duties. Charles has been waiting all his life to be king - barring ill health is he really going to step aside after five years when he's barely in the swing of it?

He'll never abdicate.
There may come a point where he passes more onto William, and he stops doing overseas visits, for example. However, Charles will be monarch until the end, I'll wager.

Found her abdication speech very moving and her recent documentary on Netflix, about her involvement with the ‘Ehrengard’ film, interesting.

Here is her speech in full in English https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/read-hm-the-queens-new-year-address-2023

I did wonder if the back operation was the only thing or other factors are at play - she’s a lifelong smoker and I would imagine that, if nothing else, it won’t have helped her recovery. Wishing her well.

I really admire Margretha. She seems to have a ferocious intellect, believe she did several degrees, and she used to make me laugh when she'd casually light a fag in public.

As an aussie I got caught up in the Mary-frenzy when they married. I can't see that she's put a foot wrong since but then again I don't read the Danish news!

Great decision to step down now, well done her.

@Enko How do you think the Danish public feel about Fred & Mary overall? Are they generally well liked?

Very Sudden but understandable if it’s her wish to step back and relax , but again the timing is very abrupt Wonder If it’s crisis control?