Public attention spiked: 3,611 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.3× the usual 1,095, with 0 article edits.
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Margrethe II of Denmark
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.
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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
116 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 7 entries
Public attention spiked: 12,006 Wikipedia readers in one day, 11× the usual 1,095, with 4 article edits. Editors noted: Fixed punctuation.
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The Guardian: Breakfast, lunch and natmad in Denmark – Scandinavian mealtimes explained | Letters
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HOLA: Prince Nikolai of Denmark supports girlfriend Benedikte in romantic Copenhagen Fashion Week moment
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The Guardian: Stand still, make eye contact: Denmark tells tourists how to behave in a wolf encounter
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Won: Denmark (2026).
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Yahoo: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark discharged from hospital
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2024· 2 entries
“I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 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.”
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Tributes were paid to Margrethe, not only in Denmark, but from around the world
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2023· 2 entries
“New Year's Address 2023 (31 December 2023)”
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The Court confirmed that Margrethe had quit smoking in connection with her back surgery the same year
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2022· 2 entries
Awarded Nordic Language Prize (2022).
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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
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2020· 1 entry
Designed the chasuble for the Danish Church of St Katharine in the London Borough of Camden
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2018· 1 entry
(her own dog, Helike, passed away the same year)
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2017· 1 entry
Designed the antependium for the All Saints' Church, Wittenberg, Germany
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2016· 1 entry
Contributed to a book about Denmark's history
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2015· 1 entry
Won award: Denmark (2015).
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2012· 9 entries
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross presented by Ivan Gašparovič (2012).
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“BBC, 'Denmark's Queen Margrethe Marks Forty Years', (13 January 2012)”
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“On assuming the throne, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (1 January 2012)”
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“On being a monarch, in an interview with the BBC during her Ruby Jubilee (13 January 2012)”
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“Ruby Jubilee speech, (15 January 2012)”
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“On the possiblity of abdication, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (01 January 2012).”
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“On being a female monarch, interview with Bo Lidegaard, 'Politiken' Partially available online (1 January 2012)”
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“Conversation with Christian Geter, (19 January 2012)”
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“Quoted by Helle Thorning-Schmidt on the occasion of Margrethe II's Ruby Jubilee. Speech (15 January 2012)”
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2011· 2 entries
“puddles [excess fabric] on the top of your shoes, that’s a horror”
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“New Year's Address 2011 (31 December 2011)”
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2010· 1 entry
“New Year's Address 2010 (31 December 2010)”
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2009· 1 entry
The law of succession was modified into absolute primogeniture
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2008· 2 entries
Career landmark: Greenlandic self-government referendum.
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That her male-line descendants would bear the additional title of Count or Countess of Monpezat in recognition of her husband's ancestry
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2006· 1 entry
But often only one royal investigator is chosen plus the prime minister, before each election
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2004· 2 entries
Awarded Hans Christian Andersen Award (2004).
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Margrethe designed the official monogram of her second cousin twice removed, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
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2003· 1 entry
Underwent a four-and-a-half-hour-long operation for spinal stenosis
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2000· 2 entries
“Karen Blixen’s stories have always fascinated me, with their aesthetic tales, their imagination and their, to me, image-creating worlds – and I’m very happy to be part of this project. I have tried to interpret Blixen’s fantastic universe in the creation of the decoupages and costumes and I’m looking forward to seeing the tale of Ehrengard come to life in this film.”
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Illustrated Prince Henrik's poetry collection Cantabile
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1997· 1 entry
With a religious service and a gala dinner attended by fellow Scandinavian royals
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1990· 1 entry
Won: Greenland (April 1990).
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1989· 3 entries
Awarded The Native Danish Language Award (1989).
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Awarded Nersornaat in gold (1989).
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Margrethe designed the bishop's robe for the Diocese of Viborg
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1985· 2 entries
Won collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1985).
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As one of four Reigning Queens, along with queens Ntfombi of Eswatini, Elizabeth II and Beatrix of the Netherlands
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1980· 25 entries
Awarded Honorary craftsman (1980).
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“We do not have that much to moan about when one thinks of what people did not moan about before.”
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“Painting is not what my life is about, but it is very important to me, and I am very lucky to be able to give some time to it. The time that I devote to painting is not a lot of time, but I do it 100 percent while I am working, and then there's nothing else that counts.”
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“For me it is always the colour, first and foremost.”
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“One would not die from my cooking, but I am not sure one would survive my driving.”
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“One may well use one's head even though one is in love. Someone has said that one cannot prevent lightening from striking – but one may prevent the whole town from burning down.”
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“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.”
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“I do not think one should chase the fashions of the day, concerning neither sweaters nor opinions.”
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“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.”
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“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.”
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“I will remain on the throne until I fall off!”
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“In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery. 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.”
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“I have always felt that it is a task that you are given, and that you have it as long as you live. That is my fundamental view. It is an integral part of the job that you have it for life.”
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“One should never be so formal that one loses life, but one should never be so informal that one becomes without form of any kind.”
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“I would like to stress that the obligation [of being Queen] has always been driven by joy. The joy is rooted in the warmth that has met me and my family everywhere through every year, in celebration and joy as in sorrow, in the so-called "big days", as well as in everyday life.”
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“The fact that I am a woman has never really played into what I have done or not done. I have just been lucky that things have played out so that I could do things.”
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“You are handed your job as the old king or queen dies... It is not a life sentence, but a life of service.”
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“Margrethe II's royal motto, chosen upon her accession to the throne.”
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“God's help, the love of the people, the strength of Denmark.”
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“We were so busy that we didn't have time to think about how terrible it was or - in fact it felt strangely natural.”
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“That cold January day - and so many people... I'd never imagined it would happen nowadays.”
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“I was supported from every side by my family and by the ministers, but so much also by the people.”
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“In spite of the many initiatives our society offers to help and support, recovery can be such a monumental task that some give up. They withdraw into themselves. Not least during Christmas and New Year is it hard to feel left out. Tonight my thoughts are with them.”
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“Gradually he [King Frederik] showed me everybody was going to help me in this...it was not a terrifying thing, but a great challenge.”
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“From 'Om man så må sige – 350 Dronning Margrethe-citater', quoted in English here”
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1979· 3 entries
Won: Denmark (1979).
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Awarded Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria (1979).
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Career landmark: Greenlandic home rule referendum, 1979.
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1978· 1 entry
Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour presented by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1978).
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1977· 1 entry
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1977).
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1974· 7 entries
Awarded Royal Victorian Chain (1974).
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Awarded Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1974).
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“Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 08:45, 28 April 1974”
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“Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 01:20, 28 April 1974”
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And Henrik purchased Château de Cayx in the wine district of Cahors in Southern France
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“Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 31:30, 28 April 1974”
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“Television documentary 'Queen Margrethe of Denmark', BBC & Jørgen Bonfils, 30:27, 28 April 1974”
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1973· 2 entries
Awarded Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (1973).
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Said of the succession: "The support and assistance which I have received throughout the years, have been crucial to the success of my task
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1972· 1 entry
Career landmark: monarch of Denmark (1972–2024).
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1970· 1 entry
2003 and 2015, and Greenland's Christmas seal in 1983
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1968· 1 entry
Won: Denmark (1968).
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1967· 2 entries
Career landmark: wedding of Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat.
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Married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, with whom she had two sons, Frederik and Joachim
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1964· 2 entries
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1964).
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Awarded Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria (1964).
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1963· 2 entries
Awarded Order of the Precious Crown, 1st Class (1963).
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And the London School of Economics in 1965
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1962· 3 entries
Awarded Order of Saints Olga and Sophia (1962).
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Awarded Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1962).
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Awarded Order of the Virtues (1962).
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1960· 2 entries
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
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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
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1959· 2 entries
Awarded Order of the Pleiades (1959).
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Alongside her parents and sisters, and to Greenland in 1960
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1958· 4 entries
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1958).
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Awarded Royal Order of the Seraphim (1958).
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Awarded Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1958).
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Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1958).
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1955· 1 entry
Before sitting for her studentereksamen in 1959
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1953· 2 entries
When a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne
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Career landmark: Danish constitutional and electoral age referendum, 1953.
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1952· 1 entry
Visited the archaeological site at Illerup Ådal with her paternal grandmother, Queen Alexandrine, which was her first visit to an excavation site
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1947· 3 entries
Won: Denmark (1947).
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Awarded Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1947).
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Not long after Margrethe's father acceded to the throne and it became clear that Queen Ingrid would have no more children
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1945· 2 entries
Won: Denmark (1945).
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Alongside her father for a performance of Elves' Hill
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1942· 1 entry
And following her accession to the throne in 1972
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1940· 1 entry
Born 1940-04-16.
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