Australians will be “thrilled” to have their first official member of European Royal Family, according to one royal expert.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark shocked royals fans on New Year’s Eve when she announced her decision to step down as monarch.
The Danish Queen will abdicate to her son Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary on the 52th anniversary of her reign on January 14.
Crown Princess Mary, 51, is of Scottish descent but grew up in Tasmania.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – royal expert Angela Levin discussed how Australians are likely to take the news.
In a recent post, after speaking to Sky News Australia, Ms Levin wrote: “What a treat to start a new year talking to Sky Australia. They are thrilled that popular Princess Mary will be their first Royal.”
Making the announcement of her abdication as part of her annual New Years Eve speech, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark noted her health is the reason for her decision.
Speaking of her back surgery, which took place in early 2023, the Danish Queen said it gave her some time to reflect on what the future looked like.
She said that she felt that it was “time to pass the responsibility on to the next generation”.
The Queen added: “Time is running out and the ailments are increasing. One no longer manages the same way as one did before.”
Fans also took to X to share their thoughts on the abdication – particularly Princess Mary’s future role.
One fan wrote: “She’s a great example of someone marrying into a foreign royal family and embracing their traditions and on top of that learning new language. She will be a wonderful Queen.”
Another wrote: “So proud and happy for our Australian born Danish Queen”, while a third fan wrote: “She’s a wonderful Crown Princess and will be an amazing Queen.”
Speaking on 9 News Australia, European correspondent Edward Godfrey said that, unlike the British royals, there will be “no formal coronation ceremony” for the Danish couple.
The start of Crown Prince Frederik’s reign will just be “publicly announced” at the Christiansborg Palace on January 14.
Calling the Danish Royal Family “one of the most popular in the world”, Mr Godfrey said that the occasion will still be a “big affair”.
In her speech, the Danish Queen gave thanks to her son and her daughter-in-law for their “crucial” support and assistance over the years.
