Denmark's Queen Margrethe II Announces Abdication On Live TV
TimeDec 27, 2023
Danish Queen Margrethe II Abdicates Throne
The Facts
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark unexpectedly announced live on television in her New Year's Eve address that she would formally step down from her position on Jan. 14 — the anniversary of the exact same day that she ascended to the throne after the death of her father King Frederik IX in 1972.
The 83-year-old, who became the longest-serving monarch in Europe since the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, is the longest-reigning monarch in Danish history.
The Spin
Right narrative
Time takes its toll, and even a brilliant monarch like Queen Margrethe II must leave the responsibility to the next generation. During her five-decade reign, her communications skills restored support for the monarchy in the fairly homogenous and patriotic country of 6M people. What a blessing it would be if King Charles could deliver his messages as she does: directly and forthright.
Left narrative
A political system in which heads of state and other high officials are determined by birthright has inherent flaws — but it's even worse that most of them are fitted with such power to their death. As Queen Margrethe II follows her fellow monarchs from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain in abdicating to keep institutions functioning properly, Britain should learn at least this lesson if no constitutional reform is to be made.