DotW #5 - Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid

Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, 1940

Queen Margrethe II was born to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid of Denmark in 1940. Upon her father's death, she became Queen in 1972. She is the first female monarch of Denmark since 1412.

On her name, specifically the "Þórhildur"

She was named Margrethe after her maternal grandmother, Alexandrine after her paternal grandmother, and Ingrid after her mother. Since her paternal grandfather, the then-reigning King Christian X, was also the King of Iceland, and Margrethe until 1944 was an Icelandic princess, the Princess was as a tribute to the people of Iceland given an Icelandic name, Þórhildur (Thorhildur).

In 1953, Danish parliament passed a new act of succession that granted female heirs succession to the throne - this had been impossible due to laws enacted in the 1850s.

At the age of 18, Margrethe was granted a seat on the Council of State in order to prepare her for her future role. The role of Queen is largely symbolic - the royal family has no role in Danish politics. It serves mainly to meet foreign dignitaries and provide a unifying theme for the Danish people. The queen does not - by her personal choice - vote in elections.

Margrethe is an accomplished artist and designer. Her illustrations were used - under the pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer - for the Danish translation of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Additionally, she has designed costumes for the Royal Danish Ballet.

She smokes. Constantly.

In 2006, the royal court announced that she would no longer smoke in public.

Denmark has steadily become an increasingly secular society. Here is what she had to say about Islam in 2005.

We are being challenged by Islam these years. Globally as well as locally. There is something impressive about people for whom religion imbues their existence, from dusk to dawn, from cradle to grave. There are also Christians who feel this way. There is something endearing about people who give themselves up completely to their faith. But there is likewise something frightening about such a totality, which also is a feature of Islam. A counterbalance has to be found, and one has to, at times, run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on you. For there are some things for which one should display no tolerance. And when we are tolerant, we must know whether it is because of convenience or conviction.

Thanks to Wikipedia for most of this info. Additionally to Hell Bent for Taters for the LoTR / Hobbit pics.

As always, any opinions / thoughts / etc are mine and do not reflect the views of the Danish people or anyone else other than me.