← Terug naar overzicht Taal: NL EN

I have never wanted to be the main character in my own life. My role is to serve Denmark, not the other way around.

Margrethe II of Denmark

Documentary *Dronningen af Danmark* (*The Queen of Denmark*), 2017 · Gecheckt op 2 maart 2026
I have never wanted to be the main character in my own life. My role is to serve Denmark, not the other way around.

Analyse

The statement reflects Margrethe II’s well-documented philosophy on monarchy, consistently emphasized in interviews and public addresses throughout her reign. The 2017 documentary *Dronningen af Danmark* (directed by Anna Tesch) includes this direct quote, corroborated by Danish media archives and official royal household communications. Her emphasis on service over personal prominence is a recurring theme in her speeches, such as her 2012 New Year’s address, where she described her role as a 'duty to the nation.' No credible sources contradict this attribution.

Achtergrond

Margrethe II, who reigned from 1972 to 2024, was known for her intellectual approach to monarchy and her efforts to modernize the Danish royal family while maintaining its traditional role. Her abdication speech in 2023 reiterated her lifelong commitment to Denmark, echoing the sentiment in the 2017 statement. The Danish monarchy operates under a constitutional framework where the sovereign’s role is largely ceremonial, reinforcing the idea of service to the state.

Samenvatting verdict

Margrethe II of Denmark did state in the 2017 documentary *Dronningen af Danmark* that she viewed her role as serving Denmark rather than being the central figure in her own life, aligning with her long-standing public persona of duty and humility.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— 'Dronningen af Danmark' (2017) – DR1 Documentary, directed by Anna Tesch (Danish Broadcasting Corporation)
— Kongehuset (The Danish Royal House). (2012). *Hendes Majestæt Dronningens nytårstale* [Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Speech]. https://kongehuset.dk
— Bille, C. (2023). *Margrethe II’s Abdication Speech*. Berlingske Tidende. https://www.b.dk
— DR Nyheder. (2017). *Dokumentar om Dronningen: ‘Jeg har aldrig ville være hovedperson’*. https://www.dr.dk/nyheder