After 52 years on the throne, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II abdicates. Her son, Crown Prince Frederik, takes over the scepter. What title he will have and who is now crown prince: answers to the most important questions.
What happens on January 14th?
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark officially abdicates. Crown Prince Frederik becomes the new king of the country as well as the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is the first time in almost 900 years that a regent has abdicated in Denmark – an extraordinary and historic event.
Why does Margrethe II abdicate?
The monarch announced her abdication in her New Year’s speech on New Year’s Eve. The announcement came as a surprise to the Danes. In her speech, Margrethe cited her old age and health reasons as reasons for her decision. Margrethe had back surgery in February. The operation gave her the impetus to think about “whether it wasn’t time to hand over responsibility to the next generation.”
How does the change of throne take place?
At around 1.30 p.m. Frederik, his wife Mary and Margrethe II will leave Amalienborg Palace. The exact time of the change of throne will take place during the meeting of the State Council in Christiansborg Palace, when Margrethe II has signed the declaration of abdication. This is scheduled for 2 p.m. The State Council consists of the head of state, the head of government and the ministers. This is usually where the king or queen signs new laws. According to the constitution, when the throne changes, the new regent takes on all the duties of the head of state. Margrethe will then drive back to Amalienborg.
At 3 p.m., Frederik is proclaimed the new King of Denmark on the balcony of Christiansborg. He then gives a short speech. Two hours later, the royal flags in Amalienborg will be brought from the Palais Christian IX, Margrethe’s residence, to the palace of Frederik VIII, where the new king will live with his family. There will be no coronation ceremony like in Great Britain.
What title will Frederik of Denmark have then?
He then bears the title of His Majesty Frederik X.
What title will Crown Princess Mary have then?
Frederik’s wife Mary will bear the title of Her Majesty Queen Mary. From now on, the royal couple bear the title King and Queen of Denmark.
Who will be crown prince and therefore the next heir to the throne?
His Royal Highness Prince Christian, 18 years old, becomes heir to the throne and will henceforth be known as Crown Prince Christian.
Denmark’s queen abdicates
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What title will Margrethe II have after her abdication?
After the change of throne, Margrethe remains Her Majesty and bears the title Her Majesty Queen Margrethe.
Abdication – what is that actually?
Abdication is the resignation from an office. The word abdication is more common. Abdication comes from the Latin word “abdicare,” which means “to break away.” Abdication is often used when a reigning king or queen voluntarily resigns his or her office. In most cases, the scepter is passed to the next person in line to the throne. However, there are also elective monarchies.
What abdications have there been in recent years?
In 2013, the Queen of the Netherlands handed over the throne to her son, King Willem-Alexander. Queen Beatrix herself ascended the throne after her mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated in 1980.
In 2014, the Spanish King Juan Carlos I abdicated after several scandals, and his son Felipe VI. took the throne.
In 2019, Japanese Emperor Akihito abdicated in favor of his son Naruhito.
Why is Margrethe II’s abdication so extraordinary?
In the Scandinavian royal families – Denmark, Norway and Sweden – the abdication of the monarch has no tradition. The last voluntary renunciation of the throne by a Danish ruler dates back to 1146, when King Eric III. Lam abdicated – supposedly to go to a monastery. Since the 17th century, the Danish monarchy has been a so-called hereditary monarchy, in which royal power is inherited after the death of the ruler.
Abdication is also not common in Danish constitutional law. However, the law of succession to the throne stipulates that abdication is possible. It provides that the remaining provisions of the law relating to the death of the regent apply even if the monarch voluntarily abdicates the throne.
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
