The 83-year-old Queen of Denmark surprised Danes by announcing during her traditional New Year’s Eve address that she was stepping down from the throne after more than half a century, turning the crown over to her son, Crown Prince Frederik, the Washington Post reports.
Denmark’s monarch, Queen Margrethe II, citing her advancing age and health problems, said she would step down on January 14th, the 52nd anniversary of her ascension to the throne in 1972 following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. More than 40 countries still have some type of monarchy, with the plurality being part of the old British Commonwealth headed by King Charles III. Most remaining monarchies are constitutional monarchies where the royal has no, limited, or ceremonial power.