The Guardian: Breakfast, lunch and natmad in Denmark – Scandinavian mealtimes explained | Letters
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Margrethe II is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until her abdication on 14 January 2024. Having reigned for exactly 52 years, she is the second-longest-reigning Danish monarch after Christian IV.
politics · Queen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024 · monarch · painter · screenwriter · textile artist · also Margrethe II of Denmark, Margrethe II, Ingahild Grathmer, Denmark
Born 16 April 1940 · Q102139
97 published statements · 0 followers
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The Guardian: Breakfast, lunch and natmad in Denmark – Scandinavian mealtimes explained | Letters
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Won: Denmark (2026).
Tributes were paid to Margrethe, not only in Denmark, but from around the world
The Court confirmed that Margrethe had quit smoking in connection with her back surgery the same year
Awarded Nordic Language Prize (2022).
The Queen announced that, from the start of 2023, the descendants of Prince Joachim will only be able to use their titles of Count and Countess of Monpezat, their previous titles of Prince and Princess of Denmark ceasing
Designed the chasuble for the Danish Church of St Katharine in the London Borough of Camden
(her own dog, Helike, passed away the same year)
Designed the antependium for the All Saints' Church, Wittenberg, Germany
Contributed to a book about Denmark's history
Won award: Denmark (2015).
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross presented by Ivan Gašparovič (2012).
The law of succession was modified into absolute primogeniture
That her male-line descendants would bear the additional title of Count or Countess of Monpezat in recognition of her husband's ancestry
Career landmark: Greenlandic self-government referendum.
But often only one royal investigator is chosen plus the prime minister, before each election
Awarded Hans Christian Andersen Award (2004).
Margrethe designed the official monogram of her second cousin twice removed, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
Underwent a four-and-a-half-hour-long operation for spinal stenosis
Illustrated Prince Henrik's poetry collection Cantabile
With a religious service and a gala dinner attended by fellow Scandinavian royals
Won: Greenland (April 1990).
Awarded Nersornaat in gold (1989).
Awarded The Native Danish Language Award (1989).
Margrethe designed the bishop's robe for the Diocese of Viborg
Won collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1985).
As one of four Reigning Queens, along with queens Ntfombi of Eswatini, Elizabeth II and Beatrix of the Netherlands
Awarded Honorary craftsman (1980).
“Being Queen is a profession, a job, a position, an office that one cannot put aside when you come home from work. It is there all the time - and it is there all your life.”
“For me, it [being Queen] is a responsibility that does not include abdication. It is a task one has been given and taken upon oneself, and one does not relinquish it because it would perhaps be convenient personally to be rid of some of it.”
“I will remain on the throne until I fall off!”
“I think, for me, nature has always been my main point of reference. I think as a child I was fascinated by landscapes and nature wherever I went. I was able to travel all over Denmark, which is not that large, everywhere in this country where I've been I always loved the landscape.”
Awarded Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria (1979).
Won: Denmark (1979).
Career landmark: Greenlandic home rule referendum, 1979.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour presented by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1978).
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1977).
Awarded Royal Victorian Chain (1974).
Awarded Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1974).
And Henrik purchased Château de Cayx in the wine district of Cahors in Southern France
Awarded Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (1973).
Said of the succession: "The support and assistance which I have received throughout the years, have been crucial to the success of my task
Career landmark: monarch of Denmark (1972–2024).
2003 and 2015, and Greenland's Christmas seal in 1983
Won: Denmark (1968).
Career landmark: wedding of Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat.
Married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, with whom she had two sons, Frederik and Joachim
Awarded Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria (1964).
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1964).
Awarded Order of the Precious Crown, 1st Class (1963).
And the London School of Economics in 1965
Awarded Order of the Virtues (1962).
Awarded Order of Saints Olga and Sophia (1962).
Awarded Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1962).
And subsequently undertook courses at several European universities: She studied prehistoric archaeology at Girton College, Cambridge, between 1960 and 1961 and political science at Aarhus University between 1961 and 196
With her first cousin, Princess Margaretha of Sweden, and Princess Astrid of Norway, she travelled to the United States, which included a visit to Los Angeles, and to the Paramount Studios, where they met several celebri
Awarded Order of the Pleiades (1959).
Alongside her parents and sisters, and to Greenland in 1960
Awarded Royal Order of the Seraphim (1958).
Awarded Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1958).
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1958).
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1958).
Before sitting for her studentereksamen in 1959
When a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne
Career landmark: Danish constitutional and electoral age referendum, 1953.
Visited the archaeological site at Illerup Ådal with her paternal grandmother, Queen Alexandrine, which was her first visit to an excavation site
Won: Denmark (1947).
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1947).
Not long after Margrethe's father acceded to the throne and it became clear that Queen Ingrid would have no more children
Won: Denmark (1945).
Alongside her father for a performance of Elves' Hill
And following her accession to the throne in 1972
Born 1940-04-16.
Awarded Order of Pius IX.
Awarded Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
Awarded Order of the Star of Romania.
Awarded Order of the Yugoslav Star.
Awarded Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Awarded Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Wissam Alaouite.
Awarded Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry.
Awarded Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
Awarded Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia.
Awarded Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class.
Awarded Order of the White Eagle.
Awarded Order of the Dannebrog.
Awarded Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
Studied at Aarhus School of Business.
Studied at Aarhus University.
Studied at North Foreland Lodge.
Studied at London School of Economics and Political Science.
Studied at Girton College.
Studied at University of Cambridge.
Studied at N. Zahle's School.