Page 6 - aruba-today-20220115

A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 15 January 2022

In shadow of pandemic, Danish queen marks 50 years on throne

By JAN M. OLSEN no son, had swayed public
Associated Press opinion.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark The Danish constitution
(AP) — Denmark's Queen gives Margrethe no real
Margrethe marked her 50 political power but she is
years on the throne of Eu- clearly well-versed in law
rope's oldest ruling mon- and knows the content
archy Friday, with some of of legislation she is called
the planned festivities post- upon to sign.
poned for September due "My principal and most im-
to the pandemic. portant task is to be Queen
The outbreak, which also of Denmark and the head
stopped public celebra- of state," she said in a re-
tions for the popular mon- cent TV interview. "But I am
arch's 80th birthday in 2020, grateful that I can also ex-
forced several guests to press myself artistically."
stay away from the two- One of her latest projects is
day celebrations. They in- collages for a film by Danish
cluded Margrethe's young- Academy Award-winning
er sister, former Queen director Bille August, who
Anne-Marie of Greece is adapting a story about a
whose husband has tested fairytale kingdom. The film
positive for COVID-19. The is expected in 2023.
Greek monarchy was abol- Associated Press Her popularity has in part
ished in the 1970s. grown because of her
Flanked by her other sister, jubilee events scheduled Last year she traveled to Germany's World War II oc- straightforward talking in
Princess Benedikte, her two for Saturday have been Denmark's self-governing cupation of Denmark, the her annual televised New
sons — including Crown postponed, including Mar- territories of the Faeroe Is- infant princess became a Years speeches, where she
Prince Frederik, the heir grethe being cheered by lands and Greenland. symbol of hope to many has spoken about being
to the throne — and their thousands from the bal- She also went to Berlin for Danes in the war years. less "selfish," integrating for-
spouses, Margrethe laid cony of the Amalienborg the centennial of the 1920 It took a vote to make her eigners and tackling loneli-
a wreath at the grave of Palace in Copenhagen, a reunification with Denmark queen, though. In 1953, the ness.
her parents at the Roskilde ride through the capital in of the southern part of the Danish Constitution was In 2014, 82% of respondents
cathedral, west of Copen- a horse-drawn carriage, a Jutland peninsula which changed following a refer- in a poll opposed abolish-
hagen, where Danish roy- gala performance at the had been under German endum in which more than ing the monarchy.
als have been buried since Royal Theater and a festive rule. 85% of participants voted Ten years ago, celebrat-
1559. banquet. When she has a break from to allow female succession. ing her 40th anniversary
She also met with the gov- On Jan. 14, 1972, her fa- official duties, Margrethe Speaking at the event in on the throne, Margrethe
ernment and attended a ther, King Frederik IX, died — Europe's second longest parliament on Friday, Dan- reflected on her role and
reception at Parliament. after a short illness. The fol- reigning monarch after Brit- ish Prime Minister Mette the future of the Danish
"You are a moral compass," lowing day, a red-eyed ain's Queen Elizabeth II — Frederiksen commented monarchy, saying: "You
Henrik Dam Kristensen, Margrethe, aged 31, stood paints, sketches, illustrates that enabling Margrethe don't work to keep a posi-
speaker of the Danish Par- on the balcony of the books, creates church tex- to become queen "was an tion, you work to keep your
liament said in an address. downtown Christiansborg tiles and embroiders. She excellent choice." country,"
He noted that Margrethe is Castle and was formally has also created costumes Previously, the Danish "You give your life to your
Denmark's first queen since proclaimed queen before and sets for several bal- throne had descended country," she said. Mar-
her namesake Queen Mar- a crowd of thousands. lets at the Tivoli gardens, only through the male line, grethe has several times
grethe I, who ruled from Throughout her reign, the Copenhagen's downtown but the rise of feminism and brushed off the suggestion
1375–1412. queen has crisscrossed the amusement park. the fact that Frederik and she should abdicate in fa-
While Friday's part of the cel- realm and made numerous Born on April 16, 1940, a Swedish-born Queen Ingrid vor of her 52-year-old son,
ebrations was maintained, visits abroad. week after the start of Nazi had three daughters but Crown Prince Frederik. q

Israel says 500K have received 4th

vaccine dose

month and later began another milestone," Prime lation has received at least
offering them to everyone Minister Naftali Bennett said one booster shot.
over 60. in a statement. "Thank you The country of nearly 9.5
Authorities hope the addi- to the half a million Israelis million has reported 8,298
tional boosters will blunt a who got the fourth dose of deaths from COVID-19
wave of infections driven the COVID vaccine and in since the pandemic be-
by the omicron variant. so doing, help to keep us all gan.
Health Ministry figures show safer." Separately, the govern-
Israel currently has some Israel was among the first ment announced that Eyal
250,000 active cases. But countries to roll out vac- Hulata, the national se-
Associated Press
only 317 patients are listed cines a year ago and be- curity adviser, had tested
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel Ministry said Friday. as seriously ill, far fewer than gan widely offering third positive for the virus. It said
has administered a 4th Israel began administer- during previous waves. doses last summer in a bid the prime minister and his
vaccine dose to more than ing second boosters to the "Israel's trailblazing vaccine to contain the delta vari- staff took antigen tests that
500,000 people, the Health most vulnerable late last campaign has reached ant. Nearly half the popu- came back negative.q