Queen Margrethe of Denmark makes her entrance to welcome the diplomatic representatives in celebration of the New Year at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The photograph was taken by Ida Marie Odgaard and was provided by Ritzau Scanpix via AP.
Copenhagen, Denmark - Queen Margrethe, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, marked the end of her last New Year celebrations as the ruler of Denmark on Thursday. Amid freezing temperatures and adverse weather conditions, thousands of well-wishers gathered to witness the 83-year-old queen's final public appearance before her abdication on January 14, concluding a remarkable 52-year reign.
Queen Margrethe, a beloved figure among the Danish populace, made her way through the capital in a grandeur spectacle, seated in the iconic Gold Coach. Pulled by six white horses, the 19th-century coach adorned with 24-karat gold leaf and crowned with four gilded crowns symbolized the regal transition. Draped in a fur coat and white gloves, the queen was escorted by the Hussar Regiment in their distinctive blue uniforms with red jackets.
This historic event marks the first abdication in Europe’s oldest ruling monarchy in almost 900 years. Queen Margrethe will pass on the throne to her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, aged 55, signaling a new era in Danish royalty. The symbolic handover will take place on January 14 during a state council meeting with the Danish government, officially making Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary the new king and queen of Denmark.
In the days leading up to the abdication, Queen Margrethe engaged in a series of events, welcoming the Danish government, parliamentarians, top civilian and military officials, as well as foreign diplomats. The backdrop for these formalities was the Christiansborg Palace, a historic venue used for official royal events, gala banquets, public audiences, and housing key institutions such as the Danish parliament, the prime minister's office, and Denmark’s highest court.
The decision to step down comes as a surprise, given Queen Margrethe's longstanding commitment to her role. In her annual New Year televised address on December 31, she cited recent back surgery in early 2023 as a pivotal moment prompting reflections on the future. Acknowledging the changing dynamics of her health, she expressed that "now is the right time" to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son.
Queen Margrethe's reign witnessed a significant shift in public sentiment. When she ascended the throne in 1972 following her late father, King Frederik IX, only 42% of Danes supported the monarchy. However, recent surveys indicate a substantial increase, with 84% of Danes expressing varying degrees of support for the institution. This transition marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Danish royal history, as the nation looks towards a future under the reign of Crown Prince Frederik and Queen Mary.
