Denmark's Queen Margrethe II makes final public appearance as monarch before abdication
The ruler of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II traveled around the capital in a luxurious, carriage-like vehicle pulled by horses, marking the end of her New Year festivities and her ultimate public appearance as the monarch before stepping down later this month.
On Sunday, 14 January, the monarch who has been in power the longest in Europe will retire. It will be exactly 52 years since she became queen in 1972.
The 83-year-old will retire and her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, will take over as the new leader and will go by the name Frederik X.
The act of her stepping down from her position is a significant occurrence, as it marks the initial instance of such an event occurring within Europe's most ancient continually governing monarchy in approximately 900 years.
Last Thursday, an immense crowd of enthusiastic people withstood the frosty weather to show their support as the Queen journeyed on horseback through the bustling streets of Copenhagen.
The Gold Coach, also known as a 19th-century carriage, was covered with 24-carat gold leaf. It had four gilded crowns fixed on the roof and was pulled by six white horses. The Hussar Regiment members escorted the carriage.
During the traditional New Year's fete, the monarch travels from the Amalienborg Palace to the Christiansborg Palace in a coach.
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The Christiansborg Palace serves various purposes including hosting official royal affairs like grand dinners and engaging with the public. This palace is also the home to the parliament of Denmark, the prime minister's office, and the supreme court of Denmark.
The distance between it and Amalienborg is slightly more than half of a mile.
At the beginning of the week, Her Majesty the Queen hosted a variety of occasions to welcome the Danish government, parliament, notable civilian and military personnel, and diplomats from foreign countries.
To know more: Explore the visual history of Queen Margrethe's rule in Denmark. Also, find out about the individual who was formerly known as the "party prince" and is going to ascend to the throne as the new king of Denmark.
Next Sunday, the Queen of Denmark will officially abdicate her position at a state council held with the Danish government. This will make her son, Frederik, 55 years old, and his wife, Mary, 51 years old, the new king and queen of Denmark.
Even though rulers in various European nations have stepped down from their positions in order to make way for a younger generation, Denmark does not follow this custom.
The Queen has been stating for many years that she has no intention of stepping down from her position. Nevertheless, her state of health has altered this decision.
During her yearly televised speech on New Year's Eve, the Queen shared that her back surgery scheduled for early 2023 caused her to ponder about what the future holds for her and when to hand over the duties of the crown to her son.
"She stated that this present moment is suitable for her decision."
