Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid, Her Majesty The Queen, became Queen of Denmark in 1972. Margrethe II was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace as the daughter of King Frederik IX (d. 1972) and Queen Ingrid, born Princess of Sweden (d. 2000)
The Queen’s motto is “God’s help, the love of The People, Denmark’s strength”.
The Royal Family comprises Her Majesty The Queen’s relatives, including HRH Princess Benedikte and Her Majesty Queen Anne-Marie.
Christening and confirmation
HM The Queen was christened on 14 May 1940 in Holmens Kirke (the Naval Church) and confirmed on 1 April 1955 at Fredensborg Palace.
The Act of Succession
The Act of Succession of 27 March 1953 gave women the right of succession to the Danish throne but only secondarily. On the occasion of her accession to the throne on 14 January 1972, HM Queen Margrethe II became the first Danish Sovereign under the new Act of Succession.
In 2009, The Act of Succession was amended so that the eldest child (regardless of gender) succeeds to the throne.
A seat on the State Council
On 16 April 1958, the Heir Apparent, Princess Margrethe, was given a seat on the State Council, and she subsequently chaired the meetings of the State Council in the absence of King Frederik IX.
Wedding
On 10 June 1967, the Heir Apparent married Henri Marie Jean André, Count of Laborde de Monpezat, who in connection with the marriage became Prince Henrik of Denmark. The wedding ceremony took place in Holmens Kirke, and the wedding festivities were held at Fredensborg Palace. Prince Henrik passed away on 13 February 2018.
Children
HRH Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian, born 26 May 1968, and HRH Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, born 7 June 1969.
Education
HM The Queen attended Zahles Skole between 1946 and 1955- she was a private pupil at Amalienborg Palace from 1946 to 1949. In 1955-1956, HM The Queen was a boarder at North Foreland Lodge in Hampshire, England. Having received private lessons, Her Majesty graduated from Zahles Skole with the upper secondary examination certificate (language line) in 1959. Between 1960 and 1965, HM The Queen studied at universities in Denmark and other European countries. After having passed the examination in philosophy at Copenhagen University in 1960, HM The Queen studied archaeology at the University of Cambridge in 1960-61 and earned a Diploma in Prehistoric Archaeology. Subsequently, Her Majesty studied political science at Aarhus University in 1961-1962, at the Sorbonne in 1963 and at the London School of Economics in 1965.
Language
HM The Queen’s mother tongue is Danish. In addition, Her Majesty speaks French, Swedish, English and German.
Relation to the Defence
HM The Queen performed voluntary service with Women’s Flying Corps from 1958 to 1970 and received comprehensive training in the corps during this period. In addition to her relationship with the Danish Defence, HM The Queen has special connections to particular units of the British Defence. In 1972, Her Majesty was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen’s Regiment, and in 1992, she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment.
