Denmark's Queen Margrethe II to step down on Jan. 14 after 50 years on the throne

Queen Margrethe II announces her abdication from Christian IX's Palace, Amalienborg Castle, in Copenhagen, on Sunday, Dec. 31 2023, during her New Year's address.

Keld Navntoft/Ritzau Scanpix via AP

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Denmark's Queen Margrethe II announced Sunday that she plans to leave the throne to make way for her son, Crown Prince Frederik.

The queen announced during her New Year's speech that she would abdicate on Jan. 14th, which is the 52nd anniversary of her own accession to the throne at age 31 following the death of her father, King Frederik IX.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen paid tribute to the 83-year-old monarch, offering a "heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom."

Margrethe is the "epitome of Denmark" Frederiksen's statement read, and "throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation."