Denmark's Queen Signs her Abdication, her Son Frederik X Becomes King

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (R) signs a declaration of abdication as Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (C) becomes King Frederik X of Denmark and Prince Christian of Denmark reacts in the Council of State at the Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 14, 2024. (Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP)

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II signed her historic abdication on Sunday, a step that made her son Frederik X immediately become king.
Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Many thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the royal succession was taking place, the mood jubilant as the Nordic nation experienced in first royal succession in more than a half-century, and one not caused by the death of a monarch.
Wearing a magenta outfit, Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the Danish Cabinet at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime minister’s office and the Supreme Court.
The document was presented to her as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated.
After signing it, she rose and gestured to her son to take her place, and she said “God save the king” as she left the room.
The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens: Margrethe will keep her title while Frederik’s Australian-born wife will become Queen Mary. Frederik and Mary’s eldest son Christian, 18, will become crown prince and heir to the throne.
Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Year's Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is tradition in the Danish monarchy. Margrethe underwent major back surgery last February and didn’t return to work until April.