Queen Margrethe of Denmark, the 83-year-old sovereign, made her final public appearance as monarch in a grand fashion before her upcoming abdication next week. She traveled in a luxurious carriage from Copenhagen's Amalienborg Palace to Christiansborg Palace for a plush New Year's reception on Thursday. As the queen waved to the royalists lining the snowy streets of the Danish capital, she looked opulent in the Danish Royal House's gold coach, also known as "the Royal House's finest carriage." The gold coach, dating back to 1840, is encrusted with a 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with four gilded crowns on the roof. Pulled by six white horses and escorted by members of the Hussar Regiment, it is not uncommon for the monarch to make her way to New Year's celebrations in this 19th-century carriage.
Accompanied by members of the Hussar Regiment, Queen Margrethe's final public outing as Queen marked a significant moment in Danish history. In her New Year's speech on December 31, the monarch announced her decision to step down on January 14, making way for her son, Crown Prince Frederik, to take the reins of the monarchy. While some royal experts believe that Margrethe's abdication was a strategic move to make way for a younger ruler, others speculate that it was an attempt to preserve her son's relationship with his wife, Crown Princess Mary, amid affair rumors.
Prince Frederik, 55, was rumored to have been unfaithful to Crown Princess Mary, a 51-year-old Australian-born marketing consultant, with socialite Genoveva Casanova. The speculation arose after photos emerged of Frederik and Casanova together during a trip to Madrid in November. However, the Mexican native, 47, denied any affair had taken place. The abdication of Queen Margrethe has sparked comparisons to Britain's King Charles, who may also be considering stepping down in favor of his son Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, while they are still young.
Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate early could be seen as a move to ensure that the monarchy keeps up with the times, as Charles has expressed interest in implementing changes into the British monarchy. Margrethe's abdication, scheduled for the same day she ascended to the throne in 1972 after her father's death, marks the first time in nearly 900 years that a monarch has resigned as ruler in Europe.
The speculation surrounding King Charles potentially giving up the throne early in favor of Prince William mirrors Queen Margrethe's decision in Denmark. Royal experts suggest that Charles may be considering a similar move while William and his wife, Kate Middleton, are still young. Phil Dampier, a royal expert and biographer, suggests that Charles may think about abdicating if his health suffers or if he believes it is the right time to pass on the responsibility to the younger generation. Dampier notes that Queen Elizabeth II would never abdicate due to the abdication crisis in 1936, but times have changed.
Richard Fitzwilliams, another royal expert and commentator, believes that Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate early may be a way to ensure that the monarchy keeps up with the times, something Charles has also expressed interest in implementing into the British monarchy. Fitzwilliams suggests that Margrethe may have calculated that an aging monarchy would not be ideal, especially if she had reigned for another decade or so.
The timing of Queen Margrethe's abdication has led to speculation about its connection to her son's alleged affair. Phil Dampier suggests that it is an extraordinary coincidence that Margrethe made this unexpected announcement just a couple of months after stories emerged about Crown Prince Frederik's supposed affair. Dampier believes that the queen may be thinking that her son and daughter-in-law will patch up their differences and that abdicating the throne could save their marriage.
Despite the rumors, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary put on a united front during the New Year's gala at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen. In her speech, Queen Margrethe acknowledged that her 52 years as Queen of Denmark had taken a toll on her and that she had undergone back surgery, which made her consider passing on the responsibility to the next generation. She announced that on January 14, 2024, she would step down as Queen of Denmark and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. This decision marks the first time in over 500 years that a monarch in Denmark has chosen to step down.
