Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has announced she plans to leave the throne after 52 years and hand over to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
The queen, who is Europe’s longest-reigning living monarch, announced during her New Year’s speech on Sunday that she would step down on Jan. 14th.
The Jan. 14th date mark the anniversary of her accession to the throne at age 31, after the death of her father, King Frederik IX.
According to Margrethe, the back surgery she underwent in 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,” the 83 year-old queen said in her speech.
Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark, where the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial.
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen has paid tribute to her.
In a statement, the prime minister offered a “heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom.”
Margrethe is the “epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation,” Frederiksen’s statement read.
