<
https://theconversation.com/queen-margrethe-ii-is-the-first-danish-monarch-to-abdicate-in-900-years-but-it-is-just-a-sign-of-the-times-220663>
"Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s announcement of her abdication in her New
Year’s Eve address, citing her age and health, was a significant shock to the
Danes.
Margrethe became Queen of Denmark following the death of her father, King
Frederik IX, in 1972. When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, Margrethe became
Europe’s longest-reigning monarch and is the world’s longest-serving current
female head of state. She is also the world’s sole queen regnant – that is, a
queen who reigns in her own right independent of her spouse’s rank and titles.
Her decision to abdicate marks a significant departure from what she had
repeatedly said before: her intention was to remain on the throne for life, as
did her predecessors. Queen Margrethe II will break the nearly 900-year-old
tradition of lifelong reign in Denmark.
The abdication ceremony is scheduled for Sunday January 14, coinciding with the
52nd anniversary of Margrethe’s accession to the throne. This historic moment
will also see Crown Princess Mary becoming the first Australian-born queen
consort as wife of the new king, Frederik X.
But while this announcement may have come as a shock, royal abdications – once
rare and often scandalous events – have become more frequent over the past
century."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
