Queen Margrethe's Life in Photos
The Danish queen reigned for 52 years, before abdicating in favor of her son.
In 1972, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark succeeded her father, King Frederick IX, becoming the first female Danish monarch in centuries. (The last was Margrethe I, who ruled the Scandinavian kingdoms from 1375 to 1412.) She only succeeded her father because of a relatively recent constitutional amendment that allowed women to inherit the throne.
Margrethe was born at Frederik VIII's Palace on April 16, 1940—just one week after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. Her parents, King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid, were both members of royal families: Frederick was the eldest son of Denmark's King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine (who were also monarchs of Iceland until 1944), and Ingrid was the only daughter of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret.
"We represent a very long story, and that's the story of our own country," she told the BBC during the celebration of her 40th year on the throne. "It is not a life sentence, but a life of service." On New Year's Eve 2023, Queen Margrethe announced she plans to abdicate for her son, Prince Frederik, and on January 14, 2024, she officially abdicated, making her son the new King Frederik X.
As Queen Margrethe celebrates her 84th birthday, take a look back through her royal life, in photos.
1940
King Christian X holding Princess Margrethe in an undated photo from 1940.
A baby Princess Margrethe with her parents—then the Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. Margrethe's full name is Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, named for her maternal grandmother Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, paternal grandmother Queen Alexandrine, her mother Ingrid, and Þórhildur is a nod towards King Christian being the King of Iceland.
Read more: 40+ photos of the Danish Royal Family through the years.
1941 - 1942
In this portrait of Princess Margrethe, she holds a teddy bear who wears shoes.
1945
During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark. In 1945, following the liberation of Copenhagen, Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (left) reunited with his daughter, Princess Ingrid, and met his granddaughters, Margrethe and Benedikte.
In 2020, Queen Margrethe shared her memories of liberation: "I woke up when I heard people in the streets, not outside my window, but not far from it... I was not chased back to bed. They gave me a big hug."
"Then my father came and said, 'it is peace, the war is over,'" she recounts. "I did not really understand what that meant, but I understood that all the people were very happy. I have always remembered that evening in detail. That evening must be one of my earliest memories that I can remember so well."
1946
The Danish royals pose with newborn Princess Anne-Marie (in Ingrid's arms).
1946
During a Christmas celebration, Princess Margrethe (right) wears a wreath of candles—a Swedish tradition—and her younger sister Princess Benedikte (left) is dressed as an angel.
1950
The three Danish princesses wore matching dresses in a portrait taken in Copenhagen. From left to right: Anne-Marie, age 4, Margrethe, age 10, and Benedikte, age 6.
1952
In 1952, the Danish royals traveled to England. Queen Ingrid smiles at the camera, with her arms resting on Benedikte's shoulders. Margrethe, far right, is aged 12.
1953
Margrethe's nickname is Daisy, a common diminutive of the English version of her name, Margaret.
1953
The original caption for this photo reads "Denmark's rugged King Frederik has some fun with his three daughters while spending some leisure time at the family's summer residence in Fredensborg." This photo was taken shortly after a new constitution declared Princess Margrethe heir to the Danish throne.
1954
Princess Margrethe, nearly 14, on a ski vacation in Norway.
1954
Princess Margrethe accompanied her mother Queen Ingrid on a royal engagement.
1955
In 1955, Princess Margrethe was confirmed to the Church of Fredensborg's Palace. In this portrait, she poses between her parents.
1958
This photograph—of Margrethe in a glamorous off-the-shoulder gown—marked the princesses's 18th birthday, and her coming of age according to Danish Royal Law.
1958
Upon turning 18, Margrethe took a seat in King Frederik's cabinet.
1960
She traveled with her parents on a royal visit to Greenland in 1960.
1960
The same year, she undertook a tour of America with two other princesses: Princess Astrid of Norway and Princess Margaretha of Sweden. (Margrethe is far right.) Here, the three princesses stop at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
1960
In 1960, Princess Margrethe went to London to study prehistoric archeology at Cambridge. She has a long-lasting passion for archeology, and has participated in excavations over the years.
1963
Margrethe and her sisters in traditional Danish clothing. A year later, her youngest sister, Princess Anne-Marie would marry King Constantine of Greece and become queen consort of Greece.
1965
After leaving Cambridge, the princess attended Aarhus University from 1961 to 1962. and the Sorbonne in 1963. In 1965, she studied at the London School of Economics. She's pictured here in London, before starting at LSE.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
Watch Next
Meghan's First American Riviera Orchard Product
40 Vintage Photos of Royals as Teenagers
Meghan Markle Looked Elegant at a Charity Dinner
Sam McAlister Cried at Billie Piper’s Performance
