Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has announced her surprise abdication in a new year TV address.

She will abdicate on 14 January, which will be 52 years to the day since she became queen.

"I will leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," she announced.

The 83-year-old is the world's only reigning queen and the longest serving monarch in Europe, taking the throne after the death of her father King Frederik IX in 1972.

She revealed the decision was made after a period of reflection following surgery on her back in early 2023.

"The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation," she said.

"I have decided that now is the right time," she added, and offered her thanks to the Danish public for their support over the years.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked the queen for her service.

"On behalf of the entire population, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty The Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom," she said in a statement.

"Although the duty and position of regent has been handed down for more than 1,000 years, it is still difficult to understand that the time has now come for a change of throne," the statement read.

"Many of us have never known another regent. Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation."

Unlike British royal tradition, there will be no formal crowning ceremony for Crown Prince Frederik, who is 55. Instead, his accession will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on the day.

He will take her place as King of Denmark and head of state in the country - which is a constitutional monarchy - as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Some also consider her the world's longest reigning monarch. The Sultan of Brunei has been on the throne for longer, but his country only gained independence in 1984.

She is also the second longest-serving monarch in Danish history, surpassed only by King Christian IV, of Denmark and Norway, who was on the throne for 60 years.

Affectionately known as Daisy, Queen Margrethe is known for her smoking habits and rejection of mobile phones and the internet - declaring herself "very happy" without them.

Gotzsche said the Danish royal transition is a moment of mixed celebration and sadness.

Ukraine, as well as the importance of addressing climate change.

Facing similar challenges of modern society as other royal families across Europe, the Danish royal family has decided to slim down its number of royals.

This led to a very public rift last year after Crown Prince Frederik's younger brother Prince Joachim's children were stripped of their royal titles. (Courtesy, excluding headline, BBC)

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