Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicates
Denmark's Queen Margrethe II abdicates, she announces in her New Year's speech according to Danish media.
- I have decided that it is the right time, says the queen.
- In 14 days I will have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such a long time takes its toll on everyone, including me. You no longer have the same energy as you once had.
She mentions the back surgery she underwent earlier this year, and says it gave rise to thoughts about the future and that it is time to hand over to the next generation.
Furthermore, the queen thanks the people, the governments she cooperated with, and the Folketinget.
On January 14, Crown Prince Frederik takes over the throne, on the day 52 years after 83-year-old Margrethe was crowned.
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Experts: Puts pressure on Carl XVI Gustaf - opens faster way for Victoria
Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate may affect her cousin, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. Several court experts believe so.
- In many ways it is a similar situation, an aging monarch with a successor who is ready to take over, says Sten Hedman to DN.
Swedish women's magazine editor-in-chief Johan T Lindwall believes that Margrethe's decision can put pressure on the king.
- This opens a faster path for Victoria to the throne, he says to Expressen.
Court expert Roger Lundberg tells SVT Nyheter that there may be popular pressure for Carl Gustaf to abdicate.
- The demands in both Sweden and Norway will increase strongly, where there are also popular heirs to the throne, he says.
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Analysis: The announcement is a bomb that explodes louder than any New Year's rocket
Danish commentators were taken aback by Queen Margrethe's announcement that she is abdicating on January 14.
Berlingske's culture editor Birgitte Bodrup calls it "a bomb that explodes louder than every New Year's rocket".
- There has of course been speculation that the queen's age and health could come into play at some point, but no one has seriously thought that she would hand over the throne to Crown Prince Frederik prematurely.
TV2's correspondent Ulla Terkelsen sees two potential explanations for the announcement. One is the Queen's health.
- You don't know how the queen feels physically, and it could be that the work is simply too exhausting.
It could also be about Crown Prince Frederik's age - perhaps Margrethe believes that the time is ripe for him to take office now that he is in his 50s, Terkelsen continues.
DR's court correspondent Cecilie Nilsen is also on the health track, and believes that the Queen wants to retire to enjoy her last years in peace. - It is now quite clear that the course of the Queen's illness is serious, she says.
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Mette Frederiksen: "It's hard to accept"
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has given a first written comment on Queen Margrethe's sudden announcement that she is handing over the throne, Danish media write.
"On behalf of the entire people, I would like to extend a deep thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the kingdom," writes Frederiksen and continues:
"Even though the duty and office of regent has been passed down for more than a thousand years, it is difficult to accept that it is now time for a change of throne."
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Historian: A very surprising announcement - hasn't happened in 500 years
Queen Margrethe's announcement is very surprising, says Danish historian and royal house expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen to TV2.
- Especially since the queen has said on several occasions that she stays on her stick until she falls off it.
The last time a Danish monarch abdicated the throne prematurely was Christian II in 1523, he continues.
However, Christian II did not resign voluntarily - to find a historical equivalent where a Danish monarch gave up the throne of his own free will, you have to go back to the 12th or 13th century, says historian Michael Bregnsbo to Berlingske.
The Swedish historian Dick Harrison describes the announcement as a major breach of tradition.
- A very unexpected announcement, this is not something you expect Scandinavian monarchs to do. The normal thing in the Nordics is to sit until you die, he tells TT.
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Frederik X becomes new king: "He must modernize"
On January 14, 55-year-old Crown Prince Frederik is crowned the new king of Denmark, and receives the title Frederik X.
Crown Princess Mary, who hails from Tasmania in Australia and married Frederik in 2004, is given the title of Queen.
According to the journalist and author Gitte Redder, who has written biographies of the crown prince couple, they are both well aware that they will need to modernize the Danish royal house - and already have a plan for how to do it.
- It's about getting the young people on board, because many in the younger generation are probably a little skeptical that you can inherit privileges. Crown Prince Frederik is very aware of that, says Redder to TV2.
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