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Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024 (born 1940) · Denmark

Margrethe II of Denmark is read about 2,440 times a day, in 100 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

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She held the Danish throne for exactly 52 years before doing what European monarchs almost never do: she walked away. On her own terms, on the anniversary of her accession, she handed the crown to her son and became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years.

Business ProfessionalsHistorical FigureRoyaltyPaintingScreenwriting20th Century

A life in dates

2022Nordic Language PrizeAward2012“I would like to stress that the obligation [of being Queen] has always been driven by joy.”In their words15 January 2012Ruby Jubilee speech, (15 January 2012)

“We were so busy that we didn't have time to think about how terrible it was or - in fact it felt strangely natural.”In their words1 January 2012On assuming the throne, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (1 January 2012)

“I have always felt that it is a task that you are given, and that you have it as long as you live. That is my fundamental view.”In their words1 January 2012On the possiblity of abdication, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (01 January 2012).

2005“For me, it [being Queen] is a responsibility that does not include abdication.”In their wordsQuoted in Bistrup, Anne, 'Margrethe', JP/Politikens Forlaghus (2005)

2004Hans Christian Andersen AwardAward1985Collar of the Order of the Golden FleeceAward1979Lady of the GarterAward1978Grand Cross of the Legion of HonourAward1974“Gradually he [King Frederik] showed me everybody was going to help me in this...it was not a terrifying thing, but a great challenge.”In their words28 April 1974Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 01:20, 28 April 1974

“That cold January day - and so many people... I'd never imagined it would happen nowadays.”In their words28 April 1974Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 08:45, 28 April 1974

Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward, 19741972Monarch of DenmarkOffice1972-20241970Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward1966Grand Cordon of the Order of LeopoldAwardGrand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San MartinAward1963Order of the Precious Crown, 1st ClassAward1962Order of the Royal House of ChakriAward1959Order of the PleiadesAward1958Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the FalconAward1947Knight of the Order of the ElephantAward1940Born16 April 1940

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Royal Coat of Arms of DenmarkRoyal Coat of Arms of DenmarkMargrethe (left) with her parents and sisters, 1954Margrethe (left) with her parents and sisters, 1954Margrethe received by Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and First Lady Tahia Abdel Nasser at the Abdeen Palace, Cairo, in November 1962Margrethe received by Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and First Lady Tahia Abdel Nasser at the Abdeen Palace, Cairo, in November 1962Princess Margrethe in August 1966Princess Margrethe in August 1966Margrethe and Henri in 1966Margrethe and Henri in 1966Margrethe (seated right) chairing a meeting of the Council of State on the day of her proclamationMargrethe (seated right) chairing a meeting of the Council of State on the day of her proclamationMargrethe hosting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Denmark, April 2010Margrethe hosting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Denmark, April 2010

In their own words 10

,
Margrethe II of Denmark
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. I would like to stress that the obligation [of being Queen] has always been driven by joy.

    Jan 15, 2012, Ruby Jubilee speech, (15 January 2012), Own words

  2. You are handed your job as the old king or queen dies... It is not a life sentence, but a life of service.

    Jan 13, 2012, On being a monarch, in an interview with the BBC during her Ruby Jubilee (13 January 2012), Own words

  3. We were so busy that we didn't have time to think about how terrible it was or - in fact it felt strangely natural.

    Jan 1, 2012, On assuming the throne, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (1 January 2012), Own words

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Awards

Nordic Language Prize2022
Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross, Ivan Gašparovič2012
Hans Christian Andersen Award2004
Nersornaat in gold1989
The Native Danish Language Award1989
Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece1985
Honorary craftsman1980
Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria1979
Lady of the Garter1979
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing1978
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1977
Royal Victorian Chain1974
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1974
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon1973
Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1970
King Gustaf VI Adolf's 85 year anniversary commemorative medal1967
Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin1966
Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold1966
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit1966
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1964
Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria1964
Order of the Precious Crown, 1st Class1963
Order of the Royal House of Chakri1962
Order of Saints Olga and Sophia1962
Order of the Virtues1962
Order of the Pleiades1959
Royal Order of the Seraphim1958
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1958
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon1958
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav1958
Knight of the Order of the Elephant1947
Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Grand Cross of the Order of Wissam Alaouite
Order of the White Eagle
Order of Pius IX
Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class
Order of the Star of Romania
Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia
Order of the Yugoslav Star
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries

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Margrethe II of Denmark

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About this person

Born in 1940 during her grandfather Christian X's reign, Margrethe became heir presumptive at thirteen when Denmark amended its constitution to let women inherit the throne. She succeeded her father Frederik IX in January 1972 and settled into a reign that would span half a century. She married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967 and had two sons, Frederik and Joachim. Outside the ceremonial work she illustrated Tolkien, designed costumes, and built sets - hands-on creative work that ran parallel to the throne. Support for the monarchy climbed steadily through her decades in power, reaching eighty percent by the time she stepped down. On 14 January 2024, fifty-two years to the day after she became queen, she abdicated and her elder son became Frederik X.

Country
Denmark
Type
Historical Figure
Status
living
Dates
Born 1940 · age 86

In common with Margrethe

Mette FrederiksenAlso in The Queen and the Prime Ministers (2024)Benedikte HansenAlso in The Wild Swans (2009)Kasper HoltenAlso in Dronning Margrethe & teatrets magi (2024)Helle Thorning-SchmidtAlso in The Queen and the Prime Ministers (2024)Stine Fischer ChristensenAlso in The Wild Swans (2009)Poul Nyrup RasmussenAlso in The Queen and the Prime Ministers (2024)

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