Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made her final appearance as monarch on Sunday, January 14. That day, she rode in a gilded royal carriage through the streets of Copenhagen to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of parliament, where she signed the instrument of abdication at a meeting of the State Council. She came back in a limousine. Her eldest son, who at that time became Frederick
It is difficult to overestimate the place and importance of rituals and symbols in the life of nations. It was no coincidence that Margaret II chose January 14 as the day of her abdication. On this very day in 1972, she ascended the throne after the death of her father, Frederick IX. The same date can now become a reference point for his successor. Only the circumstances are not as painful as they were years ago, when the young queen, mourning the death of her father, wore black during the ceremony. In contrast to the lavish recent coronation celebrations of Charles III in London, the ceremony in Copenhagen was simple and modest. The highlight was Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s announcement from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace that from now on Frederick “accepts this task with pride, respect and joy.”
Like a bolt from the blue
The Danes said goodbye to their queen with love, great sadness and great emotion – the best proof that they treated her not as a distant monarch on the throne, but as someone close to her. Many emphasized that Małgorzata was like a mother to them, that she was a source of spiritual support or – as the Prime Minister put it – “the personification of the nation.” Margaret II ruled for 52 years, for many of her subjects her presence was the most constant point of reference, a source of peace and security (much like Elizabeth II’s presence in Britain). Many people had the opportunity to meet her in person, because Małgorzata regularly traveled around the country. “When you’re in Denmark, it’s hard not to see how important the royal family is to people. The Dannebrog, the Danish flag, is flown to celebrate the birthdays of its members, and they grace numerous public events. The enormous support shown to the family during Prince Henry’s illness and after his death [małżonka Małgorzaty – przyp. red.] in February 2018 shows how strongly Danes support the monarchy” – this is how the magazine “Your Danish Life” recently described its place in Danish life.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
