Editing Margrethe II (section)

==Reign==

===Accession===
[[File:Guests-in-Stockholm-1972-11-11.jpg|thumb|Margrethe (centre-right) seated with her cousin, Swedish then-crown prince [[Carl XVI Gustaf|Carl Gustaf]], and Finnish president [[Urho Kekkonen]] at the 90th-birthday celebration of [[King Gustaf VI Adolf]] of Sweden, November 1972]]
On 3 January 1972, three days after King Frederik IX delivered his New Year's address, he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the [[Copenhagen Municipal Hospital]]. Margrethe was then designated [[regent]] the following day. The king died on 14 January, and Margrethe acceded the throne at the age of 31, becoming the first female Danish sovereign under the new Act of Succession. She was proclaimed Queen from the balcony of [[Christiansborg Palace]] the following day by Prime Minister [[Jens Otto Krag]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2022 |title=Frederik 9.´s sidste dage |url=https://www.dr.dk/historie/webfeature/frederik-ix-sidste-dage |access-date=28 July 2024 |website=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |language=da-dk}}</ref>

Her [[regnal number]] was chosen in recognition of the 14th century Danish monarch, [[Margaret I of Denmark|Margrethe]].<ref name="facts"/> Her [[Royal mottos of Danish monarchs|motto]] was "God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength" ({{Langx|da|Guds hjælp, folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke|links=no}}). She relinquished all the monarch's former titles except the title to [[Danish Realm|Denmark]], hence her style "[[By the Grace of God]], Queen of Denmark" ({{langx|da|Margrethe den Anden, af Guds Nåde Danmarks Dronning|links=no}}).{{CN|date=May 2024}}

=== Constitutional role ===
[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in Denmark 27 April 2010-4.jpeg|thumb|left|Margrethe hosting Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in Denmark, April 2010]]

The Queen's main tasks were to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figure at home. She performed the latter by opening exhibitions, attending anniversaries and inaugurating bridges, among other things. She received foreign ambassadors and awards, honours and medals.

As a constitutional sovereign, Margrethe took no part in party politics and does not express any political opinions. Although she had the right to vote, she opted not to do so to avoid even the appearance of partisanship.<ref name="r1"/>

The Queen held a meeting with the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister]] and the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|foreign affairs minister]] every Wednesday, unless either she or the prime minister was outside of the [[Danish Realm|kingdom]].

After an election where the incumbent prime minister does not have a majority behind him or her, the Queen held a "{{Lang|da|Dronningerunde}}" (Queen's meeting) in which she met the chairmen of each of the [[Danish political parties]].<ref name="Todays">{{cite web |url=http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today |title=The Monarchy today |publisher=Kongehuset.dk |access-date=11 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215082552/http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today |archive-date=15 February 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:P060811SA-0016 (5813178454).jpg|thumb|Margrethe with Michelle Obama at the White House, June 2011]]

Each party has the choice of selecting a royal investigator to lead these negotiations or alternatively, give the incumbent prime minister the mandate to continue his or her government as is. In theory each party could choose its own leader as royal investigator, as the social liberal {{Lang|da|[[Det Radikale Venstre]]|italic=no}} did in 2006, but often only one royal investigator is chosen plus the prime minister, before each election. The leader who, at that meeting, succeeds in securing a majority of the seats in the [[Folketing]], is, by royal decree, charged with the task of forming a new government. (No party has held an absolute majority in the Folketing since 1903.)

Once the government had been formed, the Queen formally appointed it. Officially, it was the monarch who was the [[head of state]], and she therefore presided over the Council of State ([[privy council]]), where the acts of legislation which have been passed by the parliament are signed into law. In practice, nearly all of the Queen's formal powers were exercised by the [[Cabinet of Denmark]].

It was customary for Margrethe, as the Danish monarch, to host the annual New Year [[Levee (ceremony)|levées]]. Every year on 1 January, a banquet was held for the government, the Speaker of the [[Danish Parliament]], representatives of official Denmark and the Royal Court at Christian VIII's Palace at [[Amalienborg]]. On day two, a levée was held at Christian VIII's Palace for the justices of [[Supreme Court of Denmark]] and the Officer Corps of the [[Royal Life Guards (Denmark)|Royal Life Guards]] and the [[Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)|Guard Hussar Regiment]], followed by a levée at [[Christiansborg Palace]] for the [[diplomatic corps]]. On day three, a levée was held for officers from the Defence and the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the I., II. and III. ranking classes as well as invited representatives of major national organisations and the royal patronages.<ref name="nytår">{{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/begivenheder-i-kongehuset/nytarstafler-og-kure |title=Nytårstafler og -kure |publisher=Kongehuset.dk |language=da-DK |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102070641/https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/begivenheder-i-kongehuset/nytarstafler-og-kure |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Official duties===

[[File:Monarchy Of Denmark April 2010.jpg|thumb|Margrethe surrounded by her family waving to crowds on her 70th birthday in April 2010]]

Up to the end of her reign, Margrethe held 72 Danish and eight foreign patronages as queen, including [[Aarhus Festuge]], [[ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum]], [[DaneAge Association]], [[Danes Worldwide]], the {{ill|Dyrenes Beskyttelse|da|lt=Danish Animal Welfare Society}}, the {{ill|Kræftens Bekæmpelse|da|lt=Danish Cancer Society}}, [[Den Gamle By]], [[Det Classenske Fideicommis]], the {{ill|Det Danske Bibelselskab|da|lt=Danish Bible Society}}, [[Det Kongelige Vajsenhus]], [[Diakonissestiftelsen]], [[Foreningen Norden]], [[Land of Legends (Sagnlandet Lejre)]], [[M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark]], [[Moesgaard Museum]], [[National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark]], [[Nyborg Slot]], [[Rebild National Park]], the [[Royal Danish Academy of Music]], [[Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters]], [[Royal Danish Yacht Club]], {{ill|Rungstedlundfonden|da|lt=Rungstedlund Foundation}}, [[Sankt Lukas Stiftelsen]], [[Vallø stift]] and [[Vemmetofte]].<ref name=patron>{{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/den-kongelige-familie/h-m-dronningen#protektioner-og-aereshverv |title=Protektioner og æreshverv |publisher=Kongehuset.dk |language=da-DK |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102045718/https://www.kongehuset.dk/den-kongelige-familie/h-m-dronningen#protektioner-og-aereshverv |url-status=live }}</ref>

A pillar of her reign was an intricate knowledge of and connection to all parts of the [[Danish Realm]]. In 2016, she contributed to a book about Denmark's history.<ref name=hist>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20161019/danish-queen-writes-history-of-her-nation |title=Denmark's Queen to publish history of the nation |date=19 October 2016 |publisher=[[The Local]] |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102045718/https://www.thelocal.dk/20161019/danish-queen-writes-history-of-her-nation |url-status=live }}</ref>

Until her abdication, Margrethe served as [[colonel-in-chief]] of the [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]], an infantry regiment of the [[British Army]], following a tradition dating back to 1906 when [[Edward VII]], married to [[Alexandra of Denmark]], appointed his brother-in-law, [[Frederik VIII of Denmark]], colonel-in-chief of the then [[Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)]].<ref name=r1/><ref name=CiC>{{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/connection-with-the-princess-of-wales-royal-regiment |title=Connection with The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment |publisher=Kongehuset.dk |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701032854/https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/connection-with-the-princess-of-wales-royal-regiment |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2023 |title=The PWRR's Colonel-in-Chief – PWRR and Queen's Museum |url=https://pwrrqueensmuseum.co.uk/our-colonel-in-chief/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

As [[sovereign]], Margrethe received 42 official [[state visit]]s and she undertook 55 foreign state visits herself. She and the [[Danish royal family|royal family]] have made several other foreign visits.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=4 August 2020 |title=Stats- og officielle besøg |trans-title=State and official visits |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/kongehuset/monarkiet-i-danmark/stats-og-officielle-besoeg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625030552/https://www.kongehuset.dk/kongehuset/monarkiet-i-danmark/stats-og-officielle-besoeg |archive-date=25 June 2021 |access-date=23 June 2021 |website=Kongehuset |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2021 |title=Statsbesøg til Forbundsrepublikken Tyskland |trans-title=State visit to the Federal Republic of Germany |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/statsbesoeg-til-forbundsrepublikken-tyskland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111194524/https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/statsbesoeg-til-forbundsrepublikken-tyskland |archive-date=11 November 2021 |access-date=11 November 2021 |website=Kongehuset |language=da}}</ref>

===Residences===

As queen, her official residences were [[Amalienborg]] (where she resides at [[Christian IX's Palace]]) in Copenhagen and [[Fredensborg Palace]] near [[Hillerød]]. Her summer residences were [[Marselisborg Palace]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2011 |title=Marselisborg Slot |trans-title=Marselisborg Castle |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/slotte-og-kongeskibet/marselisborg-slot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416170302/https://www.kongehuset.dk/slotte-og-kongeskibet/marselisborg-slot |archive-date=16 April 2021 |access-date=16 April 2021 |website=Kongehuset.dk |language=da}}</ref> near [[Aarhus]] and [[Gråsten Palace]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2011 |title=Graasten Slot |trans-title=Graasten Castle |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/slotte-og-kongeskibet/grasten-slot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416165902/https://www.kongehuset.dk/slotte-og-kongeskibet/grasten-slot |archive-date=16 April 2021 |access-date=16 April 2021 |website=Kongehuset.dk |language=da}}</ref> near [[Sønderborg]], the former home of her mother, Queen Ingrid, who died in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graasten Palace and Palace Gardens |url=https://kongeligeslotte.dk/en/palaces-and-gardens/graasten-palace-and-palace-gardens.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114065503/https://kongeligeslotte.dk/en/palaces-and-gardens/graasten-palace-and-palace-gardens.html |archive-date=14 January 2024 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>

===Immigration debate===

In her New Year's address at the end of 1984, the Queen addressed the [[xenophobia]] experienced by many immigrants in Denmark: {{blockquote|We have the peace, the free political life and social relations that make our country a sought-after haven for many. Refugees from very different backgrounds come here, sometimes injured in both mind and body. We welcome them and are probably also a little proud that they have chosen our little paradise, but when we see them fumbling with our way of life and our language, hospitality becomes difficult all too quickly, and disappointment sets in on both sides. There are also others who have felt that, namely the [[Guest worker program|guest workers]] and their families (...) Then we come with our 'Danish humour' and little cocky remarks. Then we meet them with coolness, and then it is not far to harassment and rougher methods—we cannot allow that. If we want the new year to be better than the old, then here is a good place to start.}}

The term "cocky remarks" ({{Lang|da|dumsmarte bemærkninger}}, {{Literal translation|dumb-slick remarks}}) has since become an integrated part of the Danish vocabulary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=dumsmart — Den Danske Ordbog |url=https://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?query=dumsmarte |language=da-DK |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=ordnet.dk |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102052509/https://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?query=dumsmarte |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an interview within the 2016 book {{Lang|da|De dybeste rødder}} (''The Deepest Roots''), according to historians at the [[South Campus (University of Copenhagen)|Saxo Institute]] of the [[University of Copenhagen]], Margrethe showed a change in attitude to immigration towards a more conservative stance. She stated that the Danish people should have more explicitly clarified the rules and values of [[Danish culture]] in order to be able to teach them to new arrivals. She further stated that the Danes in general have underestimated the difficulties involved in successful integration of immigrants, exemplified with the rules of a democracy not being clarified to Muslim immigrants and a lack of readiness to enforce those rules. This was received as a change in line with the attitude of the Danish people.<ref name="tv2_dk_23October2016">{{cite news|title=Historiker om Margrethes danskheds-udtalelse: – Hun har fulgt folkesjælens bekymringer|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2016-10-23-historiker-om-margrethes-danskheds-udtalelse-hun-har-fulgt-folkesjaelens|access-date=25 October 2016|publisher=[[TV2 (Denmark)]]|date=23 October 2016|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610175255/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2016-10-23-historiker-om-margrethes-danskheds-udtalelse-hun-har-fulgt-folkesjaelens|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="b_dk_22October2016">{{cite news|title=Dronning Margrethe om integration: "Det er ikke en naturlov, at man bliver dansker af at bo i Danmark"|url=http://www.b.dk/politiko/dronning-margrethe-om-integration-det-er-ikke-en-naturlov-at-man-bliver-dans|access-date=25 October 2016|newspaper=[[Berlingske Tidende]]|date=22 October 2016|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803074024/https://www.b.dk/politiko/dronning-margrethe-om-integration-det-er-ikke-en-naturlov-at-man-bliver-dans|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Silver, Ruby and Golden Jubilees===
{{See also|Golden Jubilee of Margrethe II}}{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 230
| perrow            = 
| image1            = Faroe stamp 302 Queen Margrethe.jpg
| image2            = Stamps of the Faroe Islands-2012-01.jpg
| footer            = Faroese stamps marking the Queen's silver jubilee in 1997 and her ruby jubilee in 2012
}}

Margrethe marked her [[Silver Jubilee]] in 1997 with a religious service and a gala dinner attended by fellow Scandinavian royals.{{CN|date=May 2024}} She celebrated her [[Ruby Jubilee]], the 40th year on the throne, on 14 January 2012.<ref name="BBC40">{{cite news |date=12 January 2012 |title=Queen Margrethe II of Denmark marks 40 years on the throne |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16531823 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314221949/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16531823 |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> This was marked by a church service, concert, carriage procession, gala banquet at [[Christiansborg Palace]] and numerous TV interviews.{{CN|date=May 2024}}

The Queen's [[Golden Jubilee]] was marked on 14 January 2022, with celebrations to take place later in the year. In September, following the [[death of Queen Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom, it was announced by the Royal House that it was "Her Majesty The Queen's wish that a number of adjustments be made" to the upcoming celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/modified-celebration-of-the-50th-jubilee-of-hm-the-queen%E2%80%99s-accession-to-the-throne|title=Modified celebration of the 50th Jubilee of HM The Queen's Accession to the Throne|work=The Royal House|date=9 September 2022|access-date=1 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205175653/https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/modified-celebration-of-the-50th-jubilee-of-hm-the-queen%E2%80%99s-accession-to-the-throne|url-status=live}}</ref>

Between Elizabeth II's death and her abdication, Margrethe was Europe's longest-reigning monarch, the world's only [[queen regnant]], and the longest-serving incumbent female head of state.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|title=Margrethe II: Who is the chain-smoking, fashion-forward Queen of Denmark?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/queen-margrethe-ii-denmark-who-b2471599.html|date=1 January 2024|work=Independent|access-date=2 January 2024|archive-date=1 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101015706/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/queen-margrethe-ii-denmark-who-b2471599.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sitting reign record ===
In July 2023, the [[Danish royal family|Danish Royal House]] recognized Margrethe II as Denmark's longest-reigning sitting monarch.<ref name=reign>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/queen-margrethe-makes-history-longest-reigning-monarch-denmark-7562644|title=Queen Margrethe Just Made History as Denmark's Longest-Reigning Monarch — See the New Record|first=David|last=Chiu|publisher=People|date=18 July 2023|access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref><ref name=sittingmonarch>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/queen-margrethe-denmarks-uniting-figure-set-step-down-throne-2024-01-11/|title=Queen Margrethe, Denmark's uniting figure, set to step down from throne|first1=Louise|last1=Rasmussen|first2=Johannes|last2=Birkebaek|publisher=Reuters|date=11 January 2024|access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> Though [[Christian IV]] reigned for over 59 years between 1588 and 1648, he was not officially installed until 1596, ruling with a "guardian government" up until then.<ref name=reign/>

=== Abdication ===
{{main|Abdication of Margrethe II}}

In her annual live broadcast New Year's Eve address on 31 December 2023, Margrethe announced her abdication, which took place on 14 January 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession to the throne.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67854395 |title=Queen of Denmark announces abdication live on TV |date=31 December 2023 |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231173513/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67854395 |url-status=live }}</ref> She said that time had taken its "toll", that her number of "ailments" had increased, and that she cannot undertake as many duties as in the past. She cited her extensive back surgery in February, and said that the operation made her reassess her position and consider "whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation".<ref name=speech>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/read-hm-the-queens-new-year-address-2023|title=Read HM The Queen's New Year Address 2023|date=31 December 2023|work=kongehuset.dk|access-date=1 January 2024|archive-date=1 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101040453/https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/read-hm-the-queens-new-year-address-2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

Margrethe's elder son, Frederik, assumed the throne as [[Frederik X]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/dronning-margrethe-av-danmark-gar-av-1.16697543 |title=Dronning Margrethe av Danmark går av |first=Silja Björklund |last=Einarsdóttir |date=31 December 2023 |website=NRK |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231174727/https://www.nrk.no/norge/dronning-margrethe-av-danmark-gar-av-1.16697543 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2023 |title=Missede du det store øjeblik? Se hele dronning Margrethes tale her |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/missede-du-det-store-oejeblik-se-hele-dronning-margrethes-tale-her |access-date=31 December 2023 |website=DR |language=da-DK |archive-date=1 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101235323/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/missede-du-det-store-oejeblik-se-hele-dronning-margrethes-tale-her |url-status=live }}</ref> Mirroring her first New Year Address in 1973, she said of the succession: "The support and assistance which I have received throughout the years, have been crucial to the success of my task. It is my hope that the new King and Queen will be met with the same trust and devotion which have fallen to my lot."<ref name=speech/>

Since her abdication, she has been referred to as "Her Majesty Queen Margrethe".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/the-royal-family/hm-queen-margrethe/|title=HM Queen Margrethe|date=15 January 2024|work=kongehuset.dk|access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/changes-in-the-titles-of-the-royal-family|title=Changes in the titles of The Royal Family|date=2 January 2024|work=kongehuset.dk|access-date=3 January 2024|archive-date=3 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103011235/https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/changes-in-the-titles-of-the-royal-family|url-status=live}}</ref> She is eligible to serve as regent in the event of the incapacity or absence of the King and Crown Prince Christian. As regent, Margrethe can perform the duties of the head of state on certain occasions, for example during Frederik and Christian's stays abroad.<ref>{{cite web|title=HM The Queen will be able to be installed as acting regent|date=10 January 2024|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/hm-the-queen-will-be-able-to-be-installed-as-acting-regent|work=kongehuset.dk|access-date=15 January 2024|archive-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114235451/https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/hm-the-queen-will-be-able-to-be-installed-as-acting-regent|url-status=live}}</ref>