Margrethe II (1940–)
Margrethe II (1940–)
Queen of Denmark. Name variations: Margaret II or Margrete II; Daisy. Born Margrethe Alexandrine Thorhildur Ingrid, April 16, 1940, in Copenhagen, Denmark; dau. of Frederick IX, king of Denmark (r. 1947–1972), and Queen Ingrid of Sweden (b. 1910); sister of Princess Benedikte (b. 1944) and Princess Anne-Marie Oldenburg (b. 1946), ex-queen of Greece; graduated from Danish and English primary and secondary schools, attended the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Cambridge University, and Sorbonne; m. Count Henri or Henrik of Laborde De Montpezat, in 1967; children: Crown Prince Frederik (b. 1968) and Prince Joachim (b. 1969).
Popular queen of the constitutional monarchy of Denmark who has reigned since 1972, works closely with her government and has numerous social and diplomatic engagements in Denmark as well as abroad; is considered one of the best-educated monarchs of Europe.
See also Women in World History.