Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe II, rode through Denmark’s capital in a gilded, horse-drawn coach as she concluded her final New Year’s reception before her abdication later this month.
Thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet on Thursday to cheer the popular queen along the route in her last public appearance as monarch.
She will step down on January 14th after 52 years on the throne.
The 83-year-old monarch will hand the throne to her oldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, in the first such resignation in Europe’s oldest ruling monarchy in nearly 900 years.
Margrethe rode in the so-called Gold Coach – pulled by six white horses – that is used when the monarch rides from the royal residence at the Amalienborg Palace to the Christiansborg Palace during the traditional New Year’s fete with officers from the armed forces but also former Danish prime ministers Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, among others.
The monarch wore a fur coat and white gloves in the closed 19th-century coach covered in 24-carat gold leaf and topped with four gilded crowns on the roof.
It was escorted by members of the Hussar Regiment in blue uniforms with red jackets.
Five hours later, Margrethe in the gilded coach left Christiansborg Palace to return to her residence at the Amalienborg Palace.
Earlier this week, Queen Margrethe held a series of events to greet the Danish government, parliament, top civilian and military officials and foreign diplomats.
The Christiansborg Palace, which is used for official royal events, such as gala banquets and public audiences, also houses the Danish parliament, the prime minister’s office and Denmark’s highest court.
The queen will sign her formal abdication on January 14th at a state council – a meeting with the Danish government – making Frederik (55) and his Australian-born wife Mary (51) king and queen of Denmark.
Although monarchs in several European countries have abdicated to allow younger royalty to take over, there is no such tradition in Denmark.
For years, Margrethe has insisted that she would not quit.
However, her health has changed that.
In her annual New Year televised address on December 31st, Margrethe said back surgery in early 2023 led to “thoughts about the future” and when to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son.
“I have decided that now is the right time,” she said.
When she ascended the throne in 1972 after her late father, King Frederik IX, only 42 per cent of Danes supported the monarchy. The most recent survey shows that 84 per cent of Danes favour it to a high or some degree. – AP