Denmark’s Prime Minister has spoken of the shock felt by some in the country at the announcement that Queen Margrethe is to abdicate.
The Danish queen said she would stand aside in her traditional New Year’s Eve address and set the date of her abdication for January 14th 2024 when her elder son will succeed as Frederik X.
Denmark’s PM’s New Year’s Day address was dominated by the news with Mette Frederiksen noting that many in Denmark are still coming to terms with the news that their monarch of 52 years is about to bow out, noting that one main reaction to the announcement was ‘’did the Queen really say that?’’
The PM added that the moment the abdication was announced it was ‘’as if time came to a standstill”, adding ”perhaps some were downright shocked.” And she spoke of a ‘’feeling of sadness’’ as 2024 starts as the realisation that Margarethe is abdicating sinks in.
The Prime Minister of Denmark also admitted that Queen Margrethe turned her into a royalist. In an emotional New Year’s address, Mette Frederiksen said she hadn’t been born a supporter of monarchy but had become one ‘’thanks to the Queen’’.
It was one of many tributes paid to Margrethe by her last Prime Minister in a speech which Ms Frederiksen herself admitted was totally different from the one she had planned to deliver.
She still touched on the issues she said had been her main focus before the surprise announcement of Margrethe II that she was stepping aside after a reign of 52 years. But the majority of her speech was a tribute to the queen who will abdicate on January 14th 2024.
The Danish PM said that Queen Margrethe had overseen a time of change in her country that was unparalleled in modern times. And she praised the monarch for her calm guidance which, she said, had made Denmark a richer and better place.
Mette Frederiksen described the Queen of Denmark’s achievements as ‘’the anchor’’ of her nation and the monarch as a ‘’rallying point’’ who has ‘’managed to speak to us as a people.’’ She thanked her for everything she had done for the country.
She also had warm words of praise for Crown Prince Frederik who, in just a few days’ time, will become Denmark’s first king in over half a century.
The PM described him as having a ‘’very special presence’’ and noted that for younger Danes, he ‘’has always been there’’ and is someone they have grown up with.
Crown Princess Mary, about to become Queen of Denmark, was described by the Prime Minister as ‘’capable, inspiring and utterly loved’’.
The teenager about to become heir to the throne, 18 year old Prince Christian, was also singled out for celebration with the PM saying she was ‘’impressed’’ by his ‘’straightforward demeamour’’.
But it was Queen Margrethe who dominated with the PM saying ‘’we will miss Queen Margrethe who we love so much.’’
And she ended with a simple sentiment ‘’to our Queen, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.’’