There was a buzz through the audience gathered in Amalienborg’s castle grounds when Queen Margrethe announced in her New Year’s speech that she would abdicate on January 14. The decision also attracts attention outside the world.
As the news of the Danish throne begins to sink in, the Danish media are filled with comments.
“It is a completely unique moment in Danish history that a sitting regent of his own free will chooses to leave early,” says DR’s royal house correspondent Cecilie Nielsen.
According to several Danish royal experts, the queen wanted to step down while she could make the decision herself and before it went beyond her role as regent. Berlingske’s royal commentator Jakob Steen Olsen was in TV2’s studio to comment on the New Year’s speech when the Queen revealed her decision.
“Very surprising”
“Shock waves went through us because it was so unexpected.” It is very, very surprising. Congratulations to the royal family for being able to keep this a secret,” he says.
Steen Olsen says that the queen’s decision changes how we have otherwise perceived our monarchy in Denmark.
“I think that many Danes are as shocked as I am, but that they also feel great gratitude and wish the queen a peaceful retirement after a job well done.”
Attention around the world
Queen Margrethe’s surprising announcement is also noted in other parts of the world and the news tops several news sites.
In Australia, which is the future Queen Mary’s homeland, the Danish royal news gets a lot of space.
“Princess Mary becomes queen after shock abdication”, writes The Daily Telegraph, while the Sydney Morning Herald notes that “Denmark’s Queen Margrethe abdicates to pave the way for her eldest son Prince Frederik”.
The Guardian writes that “Queen Margrethe announces surprise abdication on live television”, while French Le Monde writes that “the popular and rallying queen abdicates”.