Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen Margrethe II (Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid), styled HM the Queen (born April 16, 1940), is the Queen regnant and head of state of Denmark.

Biography

Margrethe was not born to be monarch, even though she was the eldest child of a crown prince, later king. At the time of her birth, only males could ascend to the throne of Denmark, due to the changes in succession laws enacted in the 1850's when the Glucksburg branch was chosen to succeed. As she had no brothers it was assumed that her uncle Knud would one day assume the throne.

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The process of changing the constitution started in 1947 when it became clear that Queen Ingrid would have no more children. At this time Margrethe II's uncle became Heir Presumptive, but the popularity of Frederik and his daughters and the more prominent role of women started the complicated process of altering the constitution - which had to be passed by two following parliaments and by a referendum, which was held on March 27, 1953. The new Act of Succession permitted female succession to the throne of Denmark, according to male-preference primogeniture, similar to that in use in the United Kingdom. Margrethe therefore became Heiress Presumptive to the Danish throne and took over the title of Throne Follower from her uncle, who was given the honorary title of Hereditary Prince (Arveprins).

Related Topics:
March 27 - 1953 - Female - Succession - Primogeniture - United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive

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She was confirmed on 1 April 1955 at Fredensborg Palace. On her eighteenth birthday, 16 April 1958, the Heiress Presumptive was given a seat in the Council of State, and the Princess subsequently chaired the meetings of the Council in the absence of the King.

Related Topics:
1 April - 1955 - Fredensborg Palace - 1958 - Council of State

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She studied political science at Aarhus University between 1961-1962, at Sorbonne in 1963, and at the London School of Economics in 1965.

Related Topics:
Aarhus University - Sorbonne - London School of Economics

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On 10 June 1967 Princess Margrethe of Denmark married a French diplomat, Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat at the Naval Church. Henri received the style and title of "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark" because of his new position as the spouse of the heiress presumptive to the Danish Throne. Two children were produced from this union: Frederik André Henrik Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark was born on 26 May, 1968; and Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, Prince of Denmark, was born on 7 June, 1969.

Related Topics:
10 June - 1967 - Denmark - Henri de Laborde de Monpezat - Throne - Frederik - 26 May - 1968 - Joachim - 7 June - 1969

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Her father, King Frederick IX died in 1972. On the occasion of the accession to the throne on 14 January 1972, Queen Margrethe II became the first Danish Sovereign under the new Act of Succession.

Related Topics:
Frederick IX - 1972 - 14 January - Sovereign

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