Queen Margrethe II announces Abdication for January 14, 2024

[Stefan]

It is interesting that this particular passage was reiterated. You can view it from two viewpoints - "It is my hope" meaning he too understand that he may also need to step down. Then there is the part of "In good times, as well as in times of great challenge" - meaning he will serve even if there are challenges - health or otherwise.

Honestly, the passage from his Jubilee speech didn't need to be added. Why would they do that? For me, it's a slap in the face. I could be reading into it though....

They should have said nothing at all. Also not that the swedish RF has known beforehand

 

[Mbruno]

I feel this is something new to me but I thought Denmark used the Euro. From what I recall, and not doing a wiki search because I'm tired after a long driving trip this afternoon and about to log out, the Euro allow local mints to place the local monarch's face on a side of the coin.

No, Denmark does not use the Euro. It is one of the two EU countries that had a specific legal opt-out from the currency union in the EU treaties. The other of course was the UK, which is now no longer in the EU.

There are of course other EU countries ‘, including Sweden, that don’t use the Euro either, but, unlike Denmark, they are technically legally obligated to adopt it eventually as they don’t have the same kind of treaty opt-out as far as I understand.

 

[tommy100]

It might not be the place to ask but what other options would there have been for Margrethe- e.g does Denmark have options like a Regency she could have considered or is really it ‘carry on or abdicate’?
In Norway King Harald had mentioned that the last to accessions had seen the Crown Prince as regent before the sovereign’s death.

 

[Mbruno]

It is interesting that this particular passage was reiterated. You can view it from two viewpoints - "It is my hope" meaning he too understand that he may also need to step down. Then there is the part of "In good times, as well as in times of great challenge" - meaning he will serve even if there are challenges - health or otherwise.

Honestly, the passage from his Jubilee speech didn't need to be added. Why would they do that? For me, it's a slap in the face. I could be reading into it though....

It looks a bit like a slap in the face, but I don’t think that was the intention.

It is inevitable that, following the Danish abdication, many people in Sweden will question if and when Carl Gustaf will step down too. I believe the quote was to make it clear that there are no abdication plans in the near future.

 

[Muhler]

It might not be the place to ask but what other options would there have been for Margrethe- e.g does Denmark have options like a Regency she could have considered or is really it ‘carry on or abdicate’?
In Norway King Harald had mentioned that the last to accessions had seen the Crown Prince as regent before the sovereign’s death.

Yes, a regency is an option, if the monarch is incapacitated or otherwise unable to fulfill his/her duties.

The scenario of QMII saying: Well, I won't be doing any work, so my son will step in as regent. But I'm still the sovereign, mind you!
- Would be very odd! And I think in that case there would be open calls for her to abdicate.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

It is interesting that this particular passage was reiterated. You can view it from two viewpoints - "It is my hope" meaning he too understand that he may also need to step down. Then there is the part of "In good times, as well as in times of great challenge" - meaning he will serve even if there are challenges - health or otherwise.

Honestly, the passage from his Jubilee speech didn't need to be added. Why would they do that? For me, it's a slap in the face. I could be reading into it though....

It was likely just meant as a message to the swedish readers that the King have no plans to abdicate - and not as a slap in the face at his danish cousin…

They realize that the King will now be flooded with questions every year of when he will abdicate… I’m sure it was just that Margareta Thorgren had in mind and no malign thoghts towards QMII…

 

[PrincessofEurope]

I am in massive shock, this I never expected

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

As I posted previously, Margareta Thorgren, the director of the Information Department of the Swedish Royal Court, sent a message to the media on New Year's Eve, where she wrote that Queen Margrethe has personally spoken to and informed King Carl Gustaf about her abdication decision.
Now Margareta Thorgren tells Expressen about the King's thoughts about the Queen's decision to hand over the throne.
"The King has great respect and understanding for Queen Margrethe's decision to hand over the throne to Crown Prince Frederik."
She then refers to the King's words in his Jubilee speech:
"It is my hope that now, and in the coming years, I can continue to serve our Sweden. In both up and down. In good times, as well as in times of great challenge.”
Kungens tankar om Margrethes beslut _ Kungligt _ Expressen

Leave it to Margareta Thorgren to put her foot in her mouth

They should have said nothing at all. Also not that the swedish RF has known beforehand

Generally speaking, the SRF's communications strategy is a prime example of why royal houses should not make it a practice of commenting on every little question from journalists.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

According to Peter Astrup, a political journalist on the newspaper BT, the Queen told Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen about her plans to abdicate in a face-to-face meeting sometime in the days between December 21 and December 31. A few other prominent politicians, including former Prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, were told closely before the announcement, but besides them it was kept a secret to everyone.

It would be really interesting to know when the family, Frederik, Mary, Joachim etc were informed.

 

[Sister Morphine]

Today, a german newspaper raised the question, if this could be a move, this unforseen abdication, could be regarded as a try to save the royal couple´s marriage.... If that should be the case, which I doubt, this wouldn´t work in long run!

Well, I don't believe Frederik had an affair. I think he behaved unadvisedly, and I think the implications/rumors of an affair have been humiliating and embarrassing for Mary and their children. That said, I doubt very seriously QMII up and decided to abdicate because of these rumors in the hopes Mary wouldn't divorce him.

For starters, if that were to be true, it would mean Mary is the gold-digger to end all gold-diggers if she'd willingly stay with an unfaithful man just to secure the crown jewels. It would also mean QMII knows Mary is a gold-digger and is okay with it. Neither of these women strike me as being stupid.

 

[wartenberg7]

If Mary put the gun to Margrethe' s head by saying: "Let me become Queen or I separate Frederik" then the situation will worsen but Margrethe is out.
I still ask myself why Margrethe announced it so short- term when they all knew it since months.

No, not like that. I think their theory was, that the RF, the court, whoever thought 1. this would quieten the rumours around the Crown Prince and 2. would provide the royal couple with a new "project" or task as a rejoining force, so that they, as King and Queen of Denmark, would not be able to seperate or even divorce, because the hurdle to do that would be even greater than seperating as a princely couple.
I must confess, this was among my first thoughts, too, after the "shock" hearing this unexpected decision. I was one of those in the early 90s who denied any rumours about the failed marriage of Charles and Diana and used every opportunity to state all rumours of marital problems as mean, fat lies by the evil papers and media. Still, as I stated earlier, I`m not really buying this.

 

[carlota]

what a momentous ocasion. how unexpected, after so many centuries of the crown always being handed down upon death. it is indeed strange, as HM said she'd never abdicate. i wonder what made her change her mind and break with tradition. as she said, illness and age played a role, but maybe she was also influenced by the other neighbouring countries passing down the baton too in the last years. or maybe christian's coming of age? i guess we will never know, but how interesting it would be to have been a fly on the wall during those conversations.

in any case, it is exciting to see the crown being passed down in another country.

i am curious as to the fact that mary will be queen from day 1, even if henri fought for so long to have an equal title to margrethe and died without one. did they reconsider the monarch's spouse's title following his complains?

 

[Somebody]

what a momentous ocasion. how unexpected, after so many centuries of the crown always being handed down upon death. it is indeed strange, as HM said she'd never abdicate. i wonder what made her change her mind and break with tradition. as she said, illness and age played a role, but maybe she was also influenced by the other neighbouring countries passing down the baton too in the last years. or maybe christian's coming of age? i guess we will never know, but how interesting it would be to have been a fly on the wall during those conversations.

in any case, it is exciting to see the crown being passed down in another country.

i am curious as to the fact that mary will be queen from day 1, even if henri fought for so long to have an equal title to margrethe and died without one. did they reconsider the monarch's spouse's title following his complains?

They are just following tradition. So, if they did consider whether adaptations were necessary, it didn't lead to any changes.

 

[Stefan]

i am curious as to the fact that mary will be queen from day 1, even if henri fought for so long to have an equal title to margrethe and died without one. did they reconsider the monarch's spouse's title following his complains?

No the wives of danish Kings have always been Queens. And for the Consort of the first reigning Queen the simply followed the precedent from the UK and the Netherlands and not the one from Spain and Portugal.

 

[Mbruno]

what a momentous ocasion. how unexpected, after so many centuries of the crown always being handed down upon death. it is indeed strange, as HM said she'd never abdicate. i wonder what made her change her mind and break with tradition. as she said, illness and age played a role, but maybe she was also influenced by the other neighbouring countries passing down the baton too in the last years. or maybe christian's coming of age? i guess we will never know, but how interesting it would be to have been a fly on the wall during those conversations.

in any case, it is exciting to see the crown being passed down in another country.

i am curious as to the fact that mary will be queen from day 1, even if henri fought for so long to have an equal title to margrethe and died without one. did they reconsider the monarch's spouse's title following his complains?

There has been no change. The wife of the King has always been styled Queen in Denmark. Prince Henrik was treated differently because he was the husband of a reigning Queen.

 

[Alison H]

No, not like that. I think their theory was, that the RF, the court, whoever thought 1. this would quieten the rumours around the Crown Prince and 2. would provide the royal couple with a new "project" or task as a rejoining force, so that they, as King and Queen of Denmark, would not be able to seperate or even divorce, because the hurdle to do that would be even greater than separating as a princely couple.

Some of the British media outlets have also picked up on this idea - possibly taking it from whichever German newspaper suggested it. I think the explanation that it's due to Margarethe's age and back problems makes sense, but the media love to turn everything into a soap opera.

 

[Izzie]

In thinking about if there were signs that maybe the possibility of her stepping down at some point had maybe entered the realm of thought and/or conversations I remember feeling that something maybe had or was changing in QMII's thought process when Frederik gave his speech. That speech was really a proclamation from him to his mother that he was ready to take the helm with, as he put it, his second-in-command (Mary). He spoke of how they shared a mission but only one could steer the ship at a time. That made me think that maybe the idea had at least been in the air.

It was a fantastic and strong speech of someone that was settled in what his destiny was and that he was ready, willing and prepared to take the helm when the time came.

Video of his speech:

Unfortunately, I could not find a video with English sub-titles, but here is a video that contains an English translation in the caption section -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_con...e#bottom-sheet

And the article on it with the speech
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...allataflet-her

And beautiful photos
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiYVkHHj..._web_copy_link

I think hindsight is always 20/20 and if we look back there were signs. This did not just get decided on the fly. Plus, just based on how things have been announced since the NYE speech, it is obvious that many things have been discussed, planned, prepared and finalized as to how they will happen after the change of throne. That takes months to set in motion.

 

[Kaye1850]

I think hindsight is always 20/20 and if we look back there were signs. This did not just get decided on the fly. Plus, just based on how things have been announced since the NYE speech, it is obvious that many things have been discussed, planned, prepared and finalized as to how they will happen after the change of throne. That takes months to set in motion.

Yes, of course the succession had been planned and prepared for, no doubt meticulously, for years, if not decades! This is true of any monarchy, especially one where the monarch is ‘of an age.’

But I do not believe major decisions happen in a vacuum and it seems implausible that recent events did not play a role.

 

[Toledo]

(..)

I doubt Queen MII abdicates to save a marriage, we now see this was in the works for a while and in private. If Frederik was part of the process of abdication with his mother, the last thing he would do is to tarnish his reputation and marriage. But in a slow week news, the tabloids will grab anything and turn it into sales.

These tabloids need to stop selling a made up story and getting Queen MII involved in this nonsense.

 

[Granada]

I too am of the belief that several factors played in QM surprising decision to Abdicate. Number one her health, certainly understandable.

I think Covid, in a post Covid World, upended a lot for many People, beliefs wise. With thoughts of just how transitory and elusive life and happenings can be.
Henrik's death in 2018, age 83 after suffering from Dementia, and ALL that drama fueled from that must have been trying. Then her fellow Monarch and role model QEll's death in 2022, is also said to have impacted her greatly.

CP Frederik is now 55, perhaps She felt it time to give him the 'top job', while he has the years to make his OWN mark upon the Monarchy. VERY ably assisted by his popular and committed Consort in Mary. A 'new' purpose and chapter for them both too. In light of the controversies that resulted from the trip to Spain. Who knows.

So all in all I believe it was several factors in play. Health, Family dynamics, and realizing there was nothing wrong with the 'new' decision QMll was making. in spite of her previous pledges to never Abdicate, said as recently as 2016, no less.

To paraphrase President John F Kennedy, passing the torch to a new generation. I just wish QM ll well and happiness in retirement.

 

[polyesco]

In thinking about if there were signs that maybe the possibility of her stepping down at some point had maybe entered the realm of thought and/or conversations I remember feeling that something maybe had or was changing in QMII's thought process when Frederik gave his speech. That speech was really a proclamation from him to his mother that he was ready to take the helm with, as he put it, his second-in-command (Mary). He spoke of how they shared a mission but only one could steer the ship at a time. That made me think that maybe the idea had at least been in the air.

It was a fantastic and strong speech of someone that was settled in what his destiny was and that he was ready, willing and prepared to take the helm when the time came.

Video of his speech:

Unfortunately, I could not find a video with English sub-titles, but here is a video that contains an English translation in the caption section -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_con...e#bottom-sheet

And the article on it with the speech
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...allataflet-her

And beautiful photos
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiYVkHHj..._web_copy_link

I think hindsight is always 20/20 and if we look back there were signs. This did not just get decided on the fly. Plus, just based on how things have been announced since the NYE speech, it is obvious that many things have been discussed, planned, prepared and finalized as to how they will happen after the change of throne. That takes months to set in motion.

This was such a great speech. Must give thr Queen great comfort and pride in her son and Crown Prince

 

[Izzie]

A poll conducted after QMII'S abdication announcement serves both her decision and the CP Couple well. Some royals can only dream of numbers like this.

https://www.seoghoer.dk/kongelige/danskerne-melder-ud-det-synes-folket-om-tronskiftet

82 percent of those questioned answered that Crown Prince Frederik would be well or very well suited to being king.

Re Mary...just under 86 percent of the survey answered that she would be well or very well suited to being queen.

81 percent of those questioned believe that the Queen's decision to abdicate is a good or very good decision.

The Danes know their royals better than anyone and nice to see all the support, especially for Frederik and Mary as they take on their new royals.

 

[Blog Real]

The National Historical Museum at Frederiksborg Palace marks the upcoming change of throne with a special exhibition, where the museum's portraits and photographs of Queen Margrethe II are brought together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1y3JdOAsSo/?img_index=1

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The National Historical Museum at Frederiksborg Palace marks the upcoming change of throne with a special exhibition, where the museum's portraits and photographs of Queen Margrethe II are brought together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1y3JdOAsSo/?img_index=1

Here is the museum's website about the special exhibition:

https://dnm.dk/event/billeder-af-en-dronning/

Media pack:

https://dnm.dk/pressepakke/billeder-af-en-dronning/

 

[Sun Lion]

Maybe the public, and not the controlled Murdoch press, will start the demand to get more coverage on the soon to be Queen Mary. I'm checking the Sydney Morning news and nothing on the cover except article praising Murdoch for having money: https://www.smh.com.au

The Australian does have Mary, behind a pay wall, when you scroll down the main page:
https://www.theaustralian.com.au

And I LOVE the name of the article: "Blow to Republicans, All Hail Mary, our flannie queen living in a rom-com dream"

I don't know what the adjective 'flannie queen' means here.

The Australian women’s magazines have been able to catch up with the news of our Mary about to become a Queen only today.

(Last week’s issues came out early due to the Christmas/New Year break in publication, and this is the first time they have been able to cover this.)

Both “New Idea” and “Woman’s Day” have produced six page spreads.

But both have taken the more “challenged” perspective … than the fairytale has comes to fruition perspective.

Woman’s Day says they are revealing Mary’s shock deal with Queen Margrethe … “Crowned To Save Their Marriage!”.

New Idea’s more innocuous cover asks inside if this is “Mary’s fairytale…or nightmare?”.

(And sorry, this has nothing to do with the Murdoch press.

Both publications are now back in the hands of an Australian private equity group, after being part of a German company for several years prior.)

Anyway, Mary has five rules for her “Casanova King” in one spread and the other has Christian pictured alongside Chiara again.

Unless … or until … Mary does an exclusive with Australian Vogue or the Women’s Weekly, this is the level of coverage here at the moment.

Below are the covers of both mags … and the actual ceremony of the 14th will get on the tv news of course.

https://www.pressreader.com/australia/womans-day-australia/20240108/page/1

https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/new-idea

 

[polyesco]

A poll conducted after QMII'S abdication announcement serves both her decision and the CP Couple well. Some royals can only dream of numbers like this.

https://www.seoghoer.dk/kongelige/danskerne-melder-ud-det-synes-folket-om-tronskiftet

82 percent of those questioned answered that Crown Prince Frederik would be well or very well suited to being king.

Re Mary...just under 86 percent of the survey answered that she would be well or very well suited to being queen.

81 percent of those questioned believe that the Queen's decision to abdicate is a good or very good decision.

The Danes know their royals better than anyone and nice to see all the support, especially for Frederik and Mary as they take on their new royals.

Tabloids (who we know just want to sell) aside, the recent polls do not lie.
Danes recognize their royals, Frederik and Mary. They know Frederik is ready and he and Mary have constantly been seen as great representatives.

https://politiken.dk/danmark/art970...cC7Sgxb7OrT_PED-4YFpq7DfKM#Echobox=1704547946

 

[polyesco]

"First words from Prince Gustav about the succession to the throne

Queen Margrethe's nephew, Prince Gustav til Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, speaks for the first time about the imminent succession of thrones.
"Queen Margrethe's decision deserves the highest respect - as does her long reign. My cousin Frederik, who already enjoys a great reputation together with Mary, will be a good king of Denmark". "
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/foerste-ord-fra-prins-gustav-om-tronskifte

 

[JR76]

Lene Balleby, the head of the royal press office, have confirmed to Berlingske Tidende that the Queen told both of her sons about her intention to abdicate on 28 December.

 

[Mbruno]

Lene Balleby, the head of the royal press office, have confirmed to Berlingske Tidende that the Queen told both of her sons about her intention to abdicate on 28 December.

Does that mean Frederik knew nothing about the abdication until December 28? I find that hard to believe as practical preparations for the change of reign must have been in the works for a much longer period of time.

 

[Kaye1850]

Does that mean Frederik knew nothing about the abdication until December 28? I find that hard to believe as practical preparations for the change of reign must have been in the works for a much longer period of time.

Why? A change of reign could have come at any time, occasioned by the death of the monarch. Of course, practical preparations had always been in place…