King Charles and Prince William could look at the Danish abdication closely as “educational”, a royal commentator has claimed.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced her abdication during her New Year’s Eve speech, and today her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik will become the King.
According to royal author Gareth Russell, the British monarchy is never normally too influenced by royal abdications, which are more popular in Europe.
Russell exclusively told GB News: “There was never any indication that other European monarchies that practice these kinds of abdications, in particular the Dutch monarchy, had any impact on how the British royals felt or acted.
King Charles and Prince William could look to Danish abdication closely as ‘educational’
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“Even though they had very close and friendly relations with the Dutch royals, many of whom sheltered in Britain during World War Two.
“Those close ties continued for decades after. So I don’t necessarily think the King or the Prince of Wales will be looking at the Danish monarchy in terms of immediate inspiration.
“The Queen of Denmark has been very clear about this pretty major, unexpected surgery on her back that she went through in 2023 which has left her feeling that she is unable to continue the job after over half a century as Queen.
“So if there were any case of, ‘I’m looking at it for inspiration’, it would be what would happen in the case of the monarch’s growing physical incapacity.”
Russell argued that Queen Margrethe’s abdication came as a “shock” to the people of Denmark.
He added: “The one thing that is particularly interesting here is that the Queen of Denmark, as recently as 2016, has said in the same way that Elizabeth II and Charles III had said, that they regarded the job of a monarch as one that ended with death.
“So the change of attitude in the Queen of Denmark in 2023 was a shock to many people in Denmark, although there does seem to be a lot of support and goodwill for her to enjoy her retirement and an understanding that the surgery she went through for a woman of her age is extreme.”
King Charles and Prince William will not look at Queen Margrethe’s abdication as “inspirational”, the commentator claimed.
King Charles will not look at Danish abdication as ‘inspirational’, commentator claims
PA
Russell continued: “So whilst I don’t think the British royals will be looking at the Danish example by way of inspiration, they could find it educational.
“Perhaps if something similar happened in the future, it would be an indicator that a monarchy that has functioned in the way that Denmark has, might be something they could look to.
“But I don’t think we’ll see too much of a change anytime soon.”