Margrethe II of Denmark's mother was a daughter of the Swedish royal family, whose reigning king at the time was Folke Hubertus Carl XVI. Gustaf, making him Margrethe's uncle. As a result of a constitutional change in 1953, which also introduced female succession to the throne, Margrethe was officially sworn in as heir to the throne according to the Danish constitution when she came of age on April 16, 1958.
Margrethe received a private school education, which included trips to England, and graduated from high school in 1960. She then spent a year studying law at the Sorbonne in Paris, followed by further studies in law, political science, economics, and history in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Her academic pursuits also included stays abroad at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics.
Margrethe was groomed for her future role as monarch from a young age, traveling extensively and gaining a deep understanding of her country and the world. In 1967, she married French diplomat Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. After taking on regency duties in 1972 due to her father's illness, she succeeded Frederik IX on January 14, 1972, and has since served as Chairwoman of the State Council and Head of State.
As monarch, Margrethe II has primarily performed representative functions in coordination with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, while also using her public influence to campaign against increasing xenophobia. She and her husband, Prince Henrik of Denmark, have made numerous state trips across Europe, the Far East, North America, and South America, solidifying the Danish monarchy's popularity and recognition among the population.
In addition to her royal duties, Margrethe II is a talented individual with skills in various artistic fields. She illustrated Tolkien's bestseller "Lord of the Rings" in 1977 and has worked as a costume designer for the theater, an interior designer, and a ballet dancer. Her achievements have been recognized with honorary doctorates from the Universities of Cambridge, London, and Edinburgh, among others. Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark have two sons together.
