Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II rode through the country’s capital in a gilded, horse-drawn coach as she concluded her New Year celebrations and made her final public appearance as monarch before abdicating this month.
Europe’s current longest-serving monarch will step down on Sunday 14 January – exactly 52 years to the day of her accession to the throne in 1972.
The 83-year-old will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik – who will become Frederik X.
Her resignation is the first in Europe’s oldest ruling monarchy in nearly 900 years.
On Thursday, the Queen rode through the streets of Copenhagen as thousands of people braved the freezing weather to cheer her on.
The so-called Gold Coach – a 19th-century carriage covered in 24-carat gold leaf and topped with four gilded crowns on the roof – was pulled by six white horses and escorted by members of the Hussar Regiment.
The coach is used when the monarch rides from the royal residence at Amalienborg Palace to the Christiansborg Palace during the traditional New Year’s fete.
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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.
It is located a little over half-a-mile from Amalienborg.
Earlier this week, the Queen held a series of events to greet the Danish government, parliament, top civilian and military officials, and foreign diplomats.
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The Queen will sign her formal abdication next Sunday 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, the Queen has insisted that she will not quit. However, her health has changed that.
In her annual New Year televised address on New Year’s Eve, the Queen 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.
