In a surprise move Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has announced she will abdicate her role early 2024, after a reign lasting more than five decades. Margrethe, 83, will hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, she said in her traditional New Year’s Eve speech broadcast on Danish television. She cited a back surgery in February 2023 as giving her thoughts about the future. “In two weeks’ time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years,” she said. “Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody — also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of ‘ailments’ increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past,” she added. “In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery,” she said. “Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future — whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. “I have decided that now is the right time,” she said. “On Jan. 14, 2024 — 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father — I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.” Queen Margrethe II took over the throne Jan. 14, 1972 following the death of King Frederik IX. After the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II last year Margrethe became the longest-serving monarch in Europe. Prince Frederik will take over the throne as His Majesty King Frederik X in January, the Danish prime minister’s office said in a statement. His wife, Australian-born Princess Mary, will become Queen Consort — the first Australian to ever ascend to the role. The couple famously met in a Sydney bar during the 2000 Olympics and her admirers watched from afar as she joined the ranks of the Danish royals. Princess Mary’s rise to the throne will ensure a large audience for the ceremony from her former home in Hobart, Tasmania, where she worked as a real estate sales executive before meeting the prince. On Jan. 14, after a meeting in the council of state, the prime minister will proclaim the change of throne at Christiansborg Castle. The Queen will continue to be titled as Her Majesty following the handover. Denmark’s royals have a limited role under the country’s constitution, with power resting with parliament. Monarchs play an important ambassadorial role as well as signing off on new legislation. Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, Reuters reports.(SD-Agencies) Words to Learn 相關詞匯 【王位】wángwèi throne the state of being a ruler 【下臺】xiàtái step down leave an important job 丹麥女王瑪格麗特二世已統治丹麥五十多年，她出人意料地宣布將在2024年初退位。 在丹麥電視臺播出的傳統新年前夕致辭中，現年83歲的瑪格麗特表示將傳位給兒子弗雷德里克王儲。 她說，2023年2月經歷的背部手術讓她考慮未來的計劃。 “再過兩周我就即位52年了?！?她補充說：“這么長的歲月在任何人身上都會留下印記，對我也是如此！時間讓我們付出代價，病痛隨之增加。人無法像年輕時那樣承擔繁重的工作?！?/p> 她說：“2023年2月我接受了背部大手術。多虧稱職的醫護人員對我悉心照顧，一切都很順利。這次手術不可避免地讓我考慮未來的計劃 —— 是否到了交班的時候？” 她接著說：“我認為現在是合適的時機。2024年1月14日，也就是在我接替我敬愛的父親52年之后，我將卸任丹麥女王一職，把王位傳給我的兒子弗雷德里克王儲?！?/p> 丹麥國王弗雷德里克九世去世后，瑪格麗特二世于1972年1月14日繼位。 去年英國女王伊麗莎白二世去世后，瑪格麗特成為歐洲在位時間最長的君主。 丹麥首相辦公室在一份聲明中說，弗雷德里克王儲將于1月接任王位，成為國王弗雷德里克十世。 他的妻子、出生于澳大利亞的瑪麗王妃將成為王后 —— 這是有史以來第一位成為丹麥王后的澳大利亞人。 2000年奧運會期間，這對夫婦在悉尼的一家酒吧相識，她的擁躉們遠遠地看著她加入丹麥王室的行列。 因為瑪麗王妃的緣故，王位繼承典禮將吸引大批來自澳大利亞塔斯馬尼亞州霍巴特的觀禮者，那是她的故鄉，遇到王子之前她在霍巴特干過房地產銷售主管的工作。 1月14日，在國務委員會會議之后，首相將在克里斯蒂安堡宣布王位更替。 王位交接后，女王將繼續被尊稱為女王陛下。 丹麥憲法規定權力屬于議會，王室的作用有限。君主的職能主要是外交禮儀方面的，并簽署新法令。 據路透社報道，瑪格麗特一生都得到丹麥人的廣泛愛戴。 (Translated by Debra) | 