‘God Save The King!’: Queen Margrethe’s final words after signing abdication declaration revealed

Queen Margrethe’s final words upon abdicating as Danish monarch have been revealed.

The 83-year-old handed over the throne to her son Frederik on Sunday, ending her 52-year reign of the European nation.

She signed the declaration of abdication about 2pm local time (12am AEDT) and then stood up from the table where she was seated with Frederik X, 55, and the new heir to the throne Christian, 18.

Overcome with emotion, the teary-eyed Queen concluded her time in power by stating: “God Save The King!”

Body language expert Adrianne Carter told the Daily Mail the Queen looked more “relaxed” and “composed” than her son despite finishing her reign with an emotional and powerfully-charged statement.

“Once Margreth stands up and allows him the chair, we see him point to the seat, he’s used to deferring to her as Queen, but this will take some getting used to for him that he’s now on the throne,” Ms Carter said.

“We do see him give some genuine smiles alongside the nervousness he displays.”

The 83-year-old, who left the room upon making the remark, will continue to be majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe.

The decision, which was announced by the Danish Palace at the beginning of the year, marked a departure from other recent royal abdications around the world, which typically include a slight title change to the outgoing monarch to avoid public confusion.

While her son has now taken over, Margrethe is not exiting royal life altogether, with the former monarch to be called in if Frederik and his wife Mary are unable to complete their duties.

“Following the Council of State on 14 January 2024, Her Majesty The Queen can be installed as acting regent,” the palace confirmed last Wednesday.

“As acting regent, The Queen will be able to perform duties as head of state when both TRH The Crown Prince and Prince Christian are prevented from doing so after 14 January, for example during stays abroad.

“Already, TRH The Crown Princess, Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte can assume the function of acting regent and thus handle the duties as head of state.”

Margrethe has battled bouts of ill health in recent years and underwent a complicated back surgery in 2022, which she cited in her abdication speech as the cause behind her decision to step down.

The last time a monarch voluntarily abdicated from the Danish throne was about 900 years ago in 1146.