Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has willingly abdicated the throne in favor of her elder son Crown Prince Frederik after 52 years on the throne of Denmark. Margrethe II announced her abdication during her New Year’s address on December 31, 2023, stunning many around the world. As Europe’s current longest-reigning monarch, her abdication of the throne will be the first time a Danish monarch has voluntarily stepped down in nearly 900 years. Margrethe’s surprise announcement shocked the nation, especially since no prior speculation had indicated her decision. In a 2016 live interview, the queen said “It’s always been: you stay as long as you live. That’s what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it, too.”
If the queen had previously held strong views regarding her reign on the throne, what caused her abdication?
As is tradition in Denmark, most assumed that Margrethe would continue to reign until the end of her life, but recent health issues made her reconsider. Last February, she successfully underwent a major back surgery and was able to resume her duties in April. In Margrethe’s speech, she said that the surgery had prompted her to ponder the future of her reign and “whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.” Dubbed the “people’s monarch,” Margrethe’s quirky and creative personality helped to garner wide support from the people of Denmark throughout her reign. In a statement released by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Margrethe was described as “the epitome of Denmark.”
Born in 1940 to Denmark’s former monarch King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe became heir to the throne at the age of 13, after a constitutional amendment allowed women to join the line of succession. Now that Margrethe has voluntarily abdicated the throne in favor of Crown Prince Frederick, effective January 14, 2024, her decision poses the question of whether a new trend in royal succession will be seen.
Throughout European history, thrones have rarely been given up willingly, but Margrethe’s choice may spark more royals to follow suit. Voluntary abdication is a practice that has already become normalized in the Netherlands; in 2013, Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne in favor of her eldest son, Williem-Alexander. Queen Beatrix had previously ascended to the throne following her mother’s, Queen Juliana’s, abdication. Similarly, King Albert II retired from the throne in Belgium and was succeeded by his eldest son. Margrethe’s unexpected abdication could set a precedent for other countries to follow her example.
With Queen Margrethe’s abdication, the Danes mourn the decession of their beloved monarch. Margrethe is a prevalent figure in Denmark, and the monarchy itself is esteemed in the nation’s eyes. Since the passing of the Constitutional Act of 1849, Denmark has acted as a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is Denmark’s head of state and a symbol of the nation, but formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch, exercising their authority through the constitution, is expected to stay above partisan politics and take on ceremonial duties such as national day celebrations or state visits. No matter who holds the Danish throne, the monarchy is likely to continue to enjoy widespread popularity and support from the people of Denmark.