New Idea

NEW YEAR NEW QUEEN!

ALL SIGNS POINT TOWARDS PRINCESS MARY RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR AS QUEEN OF DENMARK

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As she celebrates one final Christmas in Australia, Princess Mary will be preparing to ring in the New Year as the queen of Denmark. This is set to be revealed in dramatic style during Queen Margrethe’s traditiona­l New Year’s speech, with royal insiders predicting the 77-year-old monarch will announce her abdication.

In an interview with Danish magazine Kendte, royal expert Sebastian Olden-jorgensen says the writing is on the wall for Mary and Fred to become king and queen in 2018.

Speculatio­n about the abdication reached fever pitch recently when it was revealed there are some changes this year to the Danish queen’s New Year’s Eve speech to the nation.

The plans are markedly grander than usual with adjustment­s to the broadcast arrangemen­ts. The address will be delivered from the palace’s reception room and will also air on the big screen in the square at Amalienbor­g Palace.

These changes have raised suspicions that Margrethe is set to make a major announceme­nt.

‘I think it is possible that the queen will say she will abdicate,’ Sebastian speculates.

Abdication rumours first surfaced in March when the Danish government hosted a mystery dinner. Speculatio­n mounted further in September, after revelation­s regarding the health of the queen’s husband, Prince Henrik. The palace confirmed at that time that Prince Henrik is suffering from

 ??  ?? Mary arrived Down Under last week with her family to spend Christmas with friends and relatives.
Mary arrived Down Under last week with her family to spend Christmas with friends and relatives.
 ??  ?? Queen Margrethe is set to abdicate before the year is out.
Queen Margrethe is set to abdicate before the year is out.

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