COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Queen Margrethe II was visibly moved yet composed upon announcing her royal retirement in her annual New Year’s speech on Sunday.
The whole country held its breath as the 83-year-old monarch acknowledged how age has started to leave its mark on her after a 52-year reign.
“I have decided that now is the right time,” the queen said.
“Thanks for the overwhelming warmth and support I have received through all these years," she said. "It is my hope that the new royal couple will be met with the same trust and devotion.”
Margrethe II has ruled the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, for five decades, since she took the throne from her father, King Frederik IX in 1972, when she was 31. She will pass the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
The queen is famously known and cherished by the public for, among other things, her passion for arts and culture, including costume design work for theatres and vivid illustrations of author J.R.R. Tolkien's works — not to mention her fierce smoking habit.
The abdication announcement comes amid continued broad support for the royal house. A survey done by Danish TV 2 in December showed that the queen remains the most popular representative for the royal house, with 38 percent of the votes.
However, nearly three out of four people also answered that Crown Prince Frederik was well suited to be regent of Denmark.
In an interview with TV 2, royalist and flower decorator Johnny Haugaard described Margrethe II as “a queen of creativity” and said that he got goosebumps and could not help crying when she announced her abdication.
Across the country, youngsters have shared vivid reactions to the announcement on social media, displaying a mix of shock and sadness.
The queen officially steps down on Jan. 14, when Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will announce King Frederik X at Christiansborg Palace in central Copenhagen.
While there is no tradition for a ceremonial crowning in Denmark, the new regent will appear on the palace balcony to be saluted three times by spectators.
According to historian and royal expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, the generational change marks a more informal future for the Danish royal family, where titles and manners will matter less.
“Crown Prince Frederik is generally very relaxed. When people talk with him, they feel like they had a nice conversation with a regular guy. In many ways, that suits a modern monarchy,” Sørensen said.
He added that both Frederik and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, are engaged with some of the most important social issues of the time, such as the environment and the mental and physical well-being of young people. Both are topics that Danes care a lot about.
Yet Sørensen said it could be challenging that the king-to-be is primarily known for his passionate participation in sports, rock concerts and public health events.
“A regent must also demonstrate a broad interest in classical culture and the various regions in Denmark. He should know all parts of his country and its citizens to get public backing,” Sørensen said.
Even though Crown Prince Frederik was known as a ”party prince” in his younger days, his family qualities and soft skills have been at the forefront since he wed Australian Mary Donaldson in 2004 and they had four children.
The new king has been a member of the International Olympic Committee and the maritime special force known as the “Frogman Corps” that requires a high level of fitness. He has run six marathons and an Ironman.
His eldest son, Christian, soon to be the new crown prince, has already followed his father's footsteps of royal informality. Upon turning 18 in October 2023, he made headlines with his birthday speech, in which he openly addressed the nervousness associated with starting a new school and recognized that he will never be perfect in life — even though he will do his best.
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