Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has announced plans to step down from her role after 52 years on the throne.
Sharing the news in her annual New Year's Eve speech on Sunday, the monarch said she intends to pass the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. The abdication will be made official on January 14, the 52nd anniversary of the queen's succession.
Margrethe said she received back surgery in February which influenced her decision to abdicate.
"Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future — whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation," the monarch said.
Margrethe's decision comes during a tumultuous period for the Danish royals. In September 2022, the queen announced her intention to remove the royal titles of four of her grandchildren — a decision that received backlash from several family members.
More recently, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's relationship faced scrutiny after a Spanish tabloid reported that Frederik was having an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.
Genoveva Casanova publicly denied the rumors, while the couple refused to comment.
Here's a complete timeline of the recent family drama.