Her Majesty the Queen announced in her New Year's Address on 31 December 2023 that Her Majesty will step down as Queen of Denmark on 14 January 2024 and will hand over the throne to HRH the Crown Prince.
Abdication
When HM The Queen abdicates at the Council of State on Sunday, 14 January 2024, it will be the first time in nearly 900 years that this has happened in Denmark – thus, it will be an extraordinary and historic event.
The term “abdication” comes from the Latin word “abdicare”, which means that one relinquishes something.
The expression is traditionally used regarding the situation in which a sitting sovereign voluntarily gives up his or her throne or authority.
In some countries, it is the custom, or at least something that occurs, that the head of state makes room for the next generation by stepping down – abdicating.
This is the case in, among other countries, The Netherlands, where four out of six sovereigns since the monarchy was established in 1813 have abdicated. This occurred most recently in 2013, when the then Queen Beatrix handed over the throne to her eldest son, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, on Queen’s Day on 30 April. Queen Beatrix herself assumed the throne through the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana, in 1980.
Also in Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain, there are examples of the head of state stepping aside by abdication in recent times.
In other countries, including Denmark, Norway and Sweden, there is no tradition of abdicating. The last time a Danish sovereign voluntarily gave up the throne before his death was thus in 1146, when the king Erik the 3rd Lam stepped down – to enter a monastery, in fact.
Even though abdication is therefore not Danish constitutional practice, the Act on Succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Denmark presumes that abdication can take place, as § 6 of the act stipulates that the act’s other provisions – which are based on the death of the sovereign – also apply in case the sovereign relinquishes the throne.
Background on succession to the throne
Since the 1600s, the Danish monarchy has been a so-called hereditary monarchy, in which the Crown is inherited upon the death of the sovereign.
The Act on Succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Denmark from 1953 thus stipulates that the Danish throne is inherited within the descendants of Christian X and Queen Alexandrine.
Until 1953, only male descendants of the king were able to inherit the throne. That was changed in 1953, when, following a referendum, it was determined that female descendants should also be able to inherit the throne, but in such a way, however, that male descendants should have precedence.
It was the amendment of the rules for succession in 1953 that prepared the way for HM The Queen to be able to assume the throne after the death of her father, Frederik IX, on 14 January 1972.
With the most recent amendment of the Act of Succession in 2009, equality in the succession to the throne was implemented. This means that the throne is now inherited by the sovereign’s oldest child – regardless of gender.
In Denmark, the tradition up to the present has been that the succession to the throne takes place upon the death of the sovereign, as was the case most recently in 1972. In these instances, the succession occurs the moment the sovereign dies.
The upcoming succession to the throne will be different. This time, the succession will first take place during the meeting of the Council of State at the moment The Queen has signed a declaration of her abdication.
HRH The Crown Prince will thus arrive at Christiansborg Palace as a crown prince and leave it as King. Likewise, HRH The Crown Princess will arrive as a crown princess and depart as Queen. HRH Prince Christian will leave Christiansborg Palace as Crown Prince (heir to the throne).
Upon the succession to the throne, the new sovereign takes charge of all of the functions which, according to the constitution, are incumbent on the head of state.
Programme
Sunday 14 January
13:35 The Crown Prince Couple leave from Amalienborg
The Crown Prince Couple and HRH Prince Christian ride in a motor car from Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace.
Route: Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal, Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard (link to map of the route)
13:37 HM The Queen rides in a carriage from Amalienborg
HM The Queen rides in a carriage from Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment.
Route: Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal, Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard (link to map of the route)
14:00 Council of State at Christiansborg Palace
HM The Queen, HRH The Crown Prince and HRH Prince Christian participate together with the Government and the Council of State secretary in the Council of State.
The succession of the throne takes place during the Council of State meeting at the moment when HM The Queen has signed a declaration of her abdication.
14:15 HM Queen Margrethe’s departure from Christiansborg Palace
HM Queen Margrethe rides in a motor car to Christian IX’s Palace, Amalienborg.
Route: Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard, Holmens Bridge, Holmens Canal, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, St. Annæ Square, Amaliegade, Amalienborg (link to map of the route)
14:30 TM The King and Queen hold a levee for specially invited persons
15:00 Proclamation from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace
His Majesty King Frederik X steps out on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, after which the Prime Minister proclaims His Majesty’s accession to the throne.
The King speaks and concludes with the motto.
15:10 Honorary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery
After the proclamation, 3 x 27 shots are fired from the Sixtus Battery on Holmen, Copenhagen, in salute.
15:10 The royal standard is lowered and reraised at Amalienborg
After the proclamation, the royal standard is lowered at Christian IX’s Palace and reraised at Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
15:30 The King and Queen ride in a carriage from Christiansborg Palace
After the proclamation, The King and Queen ride in a carriage, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s mounted squadron, from Christiansborg Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
Route: Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard, Holmens Bridge, Holmens Canal, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, St. Annæ Square, Amaliegade, Amalienborg (link to map of the route)
17:00 Transfer of the royal colours
Transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg.
Monday, 15 January
10:00 Reception in the Danish Parliament
The Royal Family participates in the Danish Parliament’s celebration of the succession of the throne. During a meeting in the Chamber, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister will deliver a speech, and in that connection, the Prime Minister offers a verbal announcement from The King to the Danish Parliament. Afterwards, The Royal Family takes part in a reception in the former Upper Chamber.
Sunday, 21 January
14:00 Celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral
The Royal Family participates in a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral. In connection with the succession of the throne, a celebratory service is held at Aarhus Cathedral with representatives of official Denmark and representatives from the City of Aarhus. The service is led by Royal Chaplain-in-Ordinary and Bishop of the Diocese of Aarhus Henrik Wigh-Poulsen.
Press
News media briefing - 10 January 2024
Read more about the news media briefing in The Royal House of Denmark
Press programme
Media coverage of events in connection with the succession of the throne requires accreditation. Requests for accreditation must be directed to the International Press Centre (IPC) or the external organiser.
Information on pools and application possibilities as well as the accreditation deadline is stated in the press programme. Details may be subject to change, and the latest updated press programme is accessible via the link below.