Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is Abdicating

In her annual New Year’s Speech, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has just announced that she is abdicating the Danish Throne after a Reign of 52 years, and will be succeeded by Crown Prince Frederik, who will become King Frederik X

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced that she will be abdicating the Danish Throne on January 14th, following a Reign of 52 years.

A very special thank you must be heard from me tonight. Thank you for all the warmth and affection that I and my family have received over many, many years.

In 14 days I will have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such a long time does not pass without a trace for any human being – not even me! Time wears on, and the “diseases” increase. You no longer cope with the same things as you once could.

„In 14 days I will have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such long time does not pass without a trace for any human being - not even me! Time goes on, and the "diseases" increase. You no longer cope with the same things as you once could. In February this year I underwent… pic.twitter.com/aDqP0LqC0p
— ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) December 31, 2023

In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery. It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.

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. I leave the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.

At 13.35 The Crown Prince couple drives from Amalienborg
The Crown Prince couple and HRH Prince Christian drive by car from Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Castle.

Route: Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Kanal, Prins Jørgens Gård ( see map of the route )

At 13.37 HM The Queen travels in the coach from Amalienborg
H.M. The Queen rides in the carriage from Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Castle, escorted by the Horse Squadron of the Guardhussar Regiment.

Route: Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Kanal, Prins Jørgens Gård ( see the carriage route here )

At 14.00 Council of State at Christiansborg Castle
H.M. The Queen, HRH the Crown Prince and HRH Prince Christian participate together with the government and the Cabinet Secretary in the Council of State.

The change of throne takes place during the meeting of the Council of State at the moment when the Queen has signed a declaration of her abdication.

At 14.15 HM Queen Margrethe’s departure from Christiansborg Castle
H.M. Queen Margrethe drives to Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg.

Route: Prins Jørgens Gård, Holmens Bro, Holmens Kanal, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, Sankt Annæ Plads, Amaliegade, Amalienborg ( see map of the route )

At 14.30 The royal couple hold a cure for special guests at Christiansborg Castle

At 15.00 Proclamation from the balcony of Christiansborg Castle
H.M. King Frederik 10 steps out onto the balcony at Christiansborg Castle, after which the Prime Minister proclaims the change of throne.

The king speaks and concludes with the election language.

At 15.10 Salute of honor from Battery Sixtus
After the proclamation, a salute is fired with 3 x 27 shots from Battery Sixtus on Holmen, Copenhagen.

At 15.10 The Royal Flag is taken down and re-raised at Amalienborg
After the proclamation, the Royal Flag is taken down at Christian IX’s Palace and raised at Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.

At 15.30 The royal couple rides in the carriage from Christiansborg Castle
After the proclamation, the royal couple rides in the carriage escorted by the Guardhussar Regiment’s Horse Squadron from Christiansborg Castle to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.

Route: Prins Jørgens Gård, Holmens Bro, Holmens Kanal, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, Sankt Annæ Plads, Amaliegade, Amalienborg ( see the carriage route here )

At 17.00 Transfer of the royal banners
Transfer of the royal banners from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.

Monday 15 January

At 10.00 Reception in the Folketing
The royal family participates in the Folketing’s celebration of the change of throne. During the meeting in the Folketingsalen, the Speaker of the Folketing and the Prime Minister speak, and in this connection the Prime Minister brings an oral message from the King to the Folketing. Afterwards, the royal family attends a reception in the Landstingsalen.

Sunday, January 21

At 14.00 Celebration service in Aarhus Cathedral
On the occasion of the change of throne, a celebration service will be held in Aarhus Cathedral with representatives of official Denmark and representatives from the city of Aarhus. The service is led by the royal confessor and bishop of Aarhus Diocese, Henrik Wigh-Poulsen.

Crown Prince Frederik will become King Frederik X on January 14th, along side Queen Mary.

The eldest daughter of King Frederik IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II was born just a week after Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany. She is the elder sister of Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Queen Anne Marie of Greece as well as the first cousin of King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and the Haga Princesses. In 1953, her father, by then King Frederick XI, altered the constitution to allow women to succeed to the throne and appointed her Heiress Presumptive, after a referendum. In 1967, then Crown Princess Margrethe married French Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. The couple had two children, now Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim . In January 1972, she succeeded her father as Queen of Denmark. She has many ceremonial duties as the Danish Head of State, as well as supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Defence Forces, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2022. Queen Margrethe is also an accomplished artist and designer, often designing many of her own outfits as well as costumes for theatre productions, most recently for ‘Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction’.