Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024 (born 1940)

Fame73.4
Momentum23.7
Historical Figures rank#56

Claim profile

Source-basedBreakout

Fame73.4
Momentum23.7
Historical Figures rank#56
Wikipedia128.6K

Born 1940 · age 86

Historical Figures

Verify ownership in 2 minutes. Keeps the profile accurate and discoverable.

Wikipedia
99 languages
Cross-language footprint
Age
86
Born 1940
Known for
Elizabeth at 90: A Fam…
2016

Summary

Updated 2026-08-30

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.

Biography

About

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 p…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Margrethe II of Denmark

Margrethe II of Denmark

said15 Jan 2012

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

— Ruby Jubilee speech, (15 January 2012)

Margrethe II of Denmark

said13 Jan 2012

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

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

Margrethe II of Denmark

said1 Jan 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.

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

Margrethe II of Denmark

said1 Jan 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.

— On the possiblity of abdication, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (01 January 2012).

Margrethe II of Denmark

said2005

Being Queen is a profession, a job, a position, an office that one cannot put aside when you come home from work. It is there all the time - and it is there all your life.

— Quoted in Bistrup, Anne, 'Margrethe', JP/Politikens Forlaghus (2005)

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Gallery