Queen Margrethe
Before her back surgery, she gives a big interview
© Dana Press
Queen Margrethe will soon have to undergo back surgery. A few days earlier, the monarch surprises with a detailed interview in which she makes a clean sweep.
On February 6, 2023, Queen Margrethe, 82, had to cancel “her private stay in Norway due to back problems”, as the Danish royal family told “Billed Bladet”. The worrying news followed just two days later: The monarch had to undergo back surgery. The surgery is scheduled to take place on February 22 at Rigshospitalet, according to the palace’s official Instagram account.
Before that, Margrethe spoke to the Danish weekly newspaper “Weekendavisen”. In the interview, the regent reviews the past year and also addresses the title scandal.
Queen Margrethe wanted to take the title decision from son Frederik
At the end of September 2022, Queen Margrethe caused a royal scandal when she announced her decision to strip the children of her second-born Prince Joachim, 53, of the titles of prince and princess. Since January 1, 2023, Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 11, are only allowed to use the titles Count and Countess of Monpezat. It was a bang that attracted a lot of media attention and criticism. Prince Joachim also publicly aired his anger several times.
When asked about the scandal, the queen replies hesitantly at first. “I could say something, but you shouldn’t say everything. For me it was important that it shouldn’t be Frederik’s lot to make such a decision. It was better that it was me,” she says, adding: ” And so it’s the old woman who made the decision.” However, it is still a little too fresh to talk about it, she explains when asked by editor-in-chief Martin Krasnik.
Rare words about her late husband Prince Henrik
Before his death in 2018, Prince Henrik, † 83, never felt heard in his role as prince consort – and often expressed this. “I was very naive, you could say,” admits Queen Margrethe and explains: “A French gentleman of his stature was not made to play second fiddle. So it’s clear that it wasn’t easy, that’s what I see above all in retrospect.” At the time, however, she was too busy as regent to admit that. Now she regrets not having prepared her husband better for his role and not having recognized “where the difficulties really lay”.
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The monarch shares her thoughts on death
Margrethe hardly deals with death. This topic is very abstract for her, she can count herself lucky that her last years were not marked by illnesses: “I don’t look away from death […]but I don’t think about it much,” says the Queen. She also emphasizes that it’s not in your own hands and that she is confident about the future of the royal family.
Rather, as head of state, it is crucial to grow together with your country and to develop a deep bond with it. This is for them – as for their predecessors, King Frederik IX. and Christian IX. – been the ideal. The next generation, led by their eldest son Prince Frederik, 54, must also be aware of this. “And that’s it,” says the 82-year-old, emphasizing that it means a lot to her to know Frederik as her successor: “I’m not afraid of that. If I let go of the reins, he’ll be there.”
Sources used: weekendavisen.dk, instagram.com