On January 14, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II will abdicate her throne

Danish Queen Margrethe II announced Sunday that she will abdicate after 52 years and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.

The queen, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, announced during her New Year's speech that she would resign on Jan. 14, the anniversary of her father's death.

Margrethe, 83, said her early 2023 back surgery prompted “thoughts about the future” and when to pass the crown to her son. “I have decided that now is the right time,” she said in her speech.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, “heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom.”

Margrethe embodies Denmark. Frederiksen said, “throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation.”

Denmark has Europe's oldest monarchy, descending from Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Magrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution prohibits her from party politics.

Frederick André Henrik Christian has been Danish heir since his birth on May 26, 1968.

He is the oldest son of Queen Margrethe and her French-born husband Prince Henrik, who died February 2018. Prince Joachim is Frederik's younger brother.

The queen's announcement was a few sentences at the end of her broad New Year's speech on the “turbulence and upheaval in the world” of the Middle East and Ukraine wars and the climate crisis.

But she thanked her countrymen for “the warmth and hospitality I meet with everywhere in Denmark.”

In addition to praising the queen, the prime minister looked ahead.

New year, Crown Prince Frederik will be king. Crown Princess Mary becomes queen. He stated that a new regent and royal couple will rule the kingdom. "We can look forward to all of this knowing they are ready for the responsibility and task."