Did Queen Margrethe of Denmark Abdicate to Save Son Prince Frederik’s Marriage amid Affair Rumors?

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe’s shock announcement of abdication has some speculating that the decision was made to save the marriage of her son Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

The Queen of Denmark, 83, revealed in her New Year’s speech that she is stepping down as sovereign on January 14 – an unexpected move that may have been made to strengthen the bond between Frederik and Mary. In November 2023, reports surfaced that the heir to the throne, 55, was having an affair with Mexican-born socialite Geneveva Casanova after they were photographed together during his private trip to Madrid. Casanova denied claims of a romantic relationship with Frederik and the heir to the throne couple continued to put on a united front as they hosted Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia.

“It is possible that the Queen took this action because she would be terrified of the marriage breaking up and the royal family losing Mary. That would cause big problems. The Queen has always viewed Mary as of immense value,” said longtime author and royal commentator Phil Dampier The Telegraph the announcement of the abdication of Queen Margrethe. The outlet noted that Queen Margrethe would become the first Danish monarch to step down in more than 500 years and had previously indicated she intended to rule for life, like her third cousin Queen Elizabeth, who reigned for more than 70 years until her death in September 2022. .

Queen Margrethe’s New Year’s speech on 31 December 2023: Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik at Amalienborg Palace on 1 January.

Keld Navntoft / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty; Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe announced that she will abdicate in January after 52 years on the throne

“It just seems an odd coincidence that she made this unexpected announcement just months after stories of the heir to the throne’s alleged affair broke,” continued Dampier, who has covered the Danish royal family for more than 20 years. “In two weeks, the prince and princess will be presented together as king and queen and they will have to get on with it. The Queen may think that they will iron out their differences and that will save their marriage.”

Princess Mary and Prince Frederik at Amalienborg Palace on January 1.

Keld Navntoft / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty

Queen Margrethe, Prince Frederik and Princess Mary, 51, appeared in good spirits as they stepped out for a New Year’s Eve banquet at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on Monday night. Queen Margrethe waved as she entered the palace, while Frederik and Mary, who have four children, smiled as they arrived together – their first public appearance since the Queen’s abdication announcement.

Queen Margrethe at Amalienborg Palace on January 1.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

In early December, Mary traveled to her native Australia without her husband to visit her family before Christmas. Her two youngest children joined her. According to the palace, Frederik plans to join her next week.

On December 31, the longest-serving female monarch in Danish history announced that she would abdicate on January 14, 2024 — her 52nd anniversary on the throne. Margrethe ascended the throne at the age of 31 in 1972 after the sudden death of her father, King Frederik IX, and in the introduction to the news she mentioned her record-breaking reign and back surgery last winter.

“In two weeks I have become the queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave a mark on everyone – including me! Time takes its toll, and the number of ‘diseases’ is increasing. One cannot undertake as much as one has succeeded in the past,” Queen Margrethe began her traditional New Year’s address, according to the English translation.

Princess Mary and Denmark’s Prince Frederik stepped out together as society denies an affair with the future king

Queen Margrethe’s New Year’s speech on December 31, 2023.

Keld Navntoft / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty

“In February of this year, I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the professional healthcare staff who took care of me. The operation inevitably gave rise to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass the responsibility on to the next generation,” she continued. “I decided now is the right time. On January 14, 2024 – 52 years after succeeding my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”

The Telegraph described the news as “very unusual”, and historian Lars Hovbakke Sorensen noted that the last Danish abdication was in 1523. Sorenson said Queen Margrethe may have been influenced by Prince Christian coming of age and turning 18 in October. Frederik and Maria’s eldest son, who will become crown prince when his father becomes king, marked the banner’s birthday with a balcony appearance, a glamorous royal gala and an induction into the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest knightly honor, followed by a formal declaration on the constitution in November.

Prince Vincent of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Isabella of Denmark and Princess Josephine of Denmark on the balcony of Amalienborg Palace for Prince Christian’s birthday on October 15. , 2023.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

That same month, reports surfaced about the state of Christian’s parents’ marriage. According to Hello!, Spanish media published photos of Crown Prince Frederik with Casanova, a philanthropist, model and TV personality, during a trip to Madrid. The media reported that the two toured the Picasso exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, walked in the park and dined together in the heart of the city. The trip reportedly came about because a mutual friend who was originally supposed to accompany Frederik around Madrid fell ill and asked Casanova, who is an expert on Picasso’s art, to go in his place.

Denying the buzz, Casanova said Hello!“I categorically deny statements suggesting a romantic relationship between Prince Frederick and myself. Any statement of this nature is not only completely untrue, but also a malicious misrepresentation of the facts. This is already in the hands of my lawyers, who will take appropriate steps to protect my right to honor, truth and privacy.”

Danish news site Dagens.com said Prince Frederik’s trip to Spain fell while his wife was in New York for United Nations Day. While the Danish royal house announced Princess Mary’s stay in New York from October 23-24, Prince Frederik’s trip to Spain was not.

Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian and Prince Joachim attend a Christmas Eve service at Aarhus Cathedral on December 24, 2023.

Johnny Pedersen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty

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Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary first met in a bar in Sydney, Australia in 2000, where Frederik was visiting for the Summer Olympics. Mary Donaldson, an Australian advertising executive, found herself on the phone with “Fred” and immediately hit it off. The couple dated long-distance before getting engaged and married in Copenhagen Cathedral in 2004, and went on to have four children: Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, 16, and 12-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

As full-time working royals, the couple support Queen Margrethe and the Crown through royal engagements and many patronages.

At the end of her New Year’s address, Queen Margrethe thanked Parliament and the public for their support over the years and stressed that she hoped her eldest son and his wife would be welcomed into their senior royal roles.

“The support and help I received over the years was crucial to the success of my task. I hope that the new king and queen will be greeted with the same trust and loyalty that I received,” she said on Sunday. “They deserve it! Denmark deserves it!,” she continued, signing greetings for a blessed new year.

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Source: HIS Education