Originally today’s post was a “welcome to 2024, here is what is planned for An Historian About Town for the first quarter of the year”. However, that changed when The Queen of Denmark gave her annual New Year’s address on television and announced that she will be abdicating on 14 January 2024. Not the news that we were expecting. While I am saddened by this news, I do not think it is entirely unexpected. So, let’s get into the specifics of Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s abdication.
Queen Margrethe’s Statement
The Danish Royal Family shared the statement on their Instagram on Sunday.
“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.
Tonight, first of all, I want to say thank you. Thank you for the overwhelming warmth and support that I have received over the years. A thank you to the changing governments, with whom it has always been rewarding to work together, and to the Danish Parliament, which has always met me with confidence.
My thanks must go to all the many, many people who, on special events, as well as in everyday life, have surrounded me and my family with loving words and thoughts. It has made these years a series of gems.
The support and assistance that I have received over the years has been decisive for me being able to carry out my task. It is my hope that the new royal couple will be met with the same trust and affection that I have received.
They deserve it! Denmark deserves it!
So I will end my last New Year’s speech with the words I usually say:
GOD PRESERVE DENMARK
GOD KEEP YOU ALL”
Why Now?
As I said above, I am not entirely surprised by this announcement. The Queen’s husband passed away in 2018, meaning that Margrethe lost one of her support pillars. She also underwent major back surgery in early 2023 and her recovery took quite some time. Back surgery is incredibly intense, and I suspect that it may have convinced Margrethe that she needs to prioritise her health. (And I do not blame her.) While some monarchs choose to continue on (like the late Queen Elizabeth II), I do believe that we may see more monarchs who abdicate when they feel they can no longer complete their role as they wish to.
A Danish Coronation?
I have already seen a lot of talk on social media about people looking forward to a Danish coronation. However, the Danes do not do a coronation. The last coronation of a Danish monarch was King Christian VIII in June 1840. (The British monarch is the only European monarch who still has a coronation.)
On 14 January, The Queen will formally abdicate at a council meeting and then Frederik will be proclaimed king. It will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen.
As an historian of modern monarchy, I will still be following this- monarchy continues to evolve, even now.
Who had Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s abdication on their 2023 dance card?
Cheers,
The Historian
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As soon as I saw the notification from The Guardian I thought you would be doing a post about this- just wasn’t expecting one so soon! I did not know the Brits were the only monarchy to still do a coronation. Is it a swearing in ceremony or just an announcement for Denmark?
I’m sure you’ll cover everything in more detail as this gets closer but curious.
Hope you had a good New Year’s!