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DANISH Queen, Margrethe II is going forward with celebrations for her 50th anniversary on the throne this weekend in spite of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Danish Queen however said the celebration would be in a muted form out of respect for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

It was the queen’s wish to adapt the programme of the coming days in light of the death, the Danish royal palace said on Friday.

Margrethe, who is extremely popular, inherited the Danish throne after the death of her father, King Frederik IX on Jan. 14, 1972.

The 82-year-old had intended to celebrate her 50th anniversary on the actual date in January, but postponed most of the major events to this weekend due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile the outpouring of grief for the queen in Britain has once again forced a change in plans, with some of the more opulent events cancelled.

Howaver, a military guard parade in front of Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace, where Margrethe and her family had planned to appear before the public on the palace balcony on Saturday had been cancelled.

Also cancelled is a carriage ride through the Danish capital.

Thousands had been expected to turn out to see her.

A planned visit to Copenhagen City Hall, including an entertainment programme, was postponed to a later date.

On the other hand, some festivities will take place in a modified form, including a gala event at the Royal Danish Theatre on Saturday evening.

A church service will be held on Sunday morning, and also a reception of the Nordic heads of state on Margrethe’s ship Dannebrog.

Margrethe offered her condolences to Britain’s new king, Charles III late on Thursday, saying his mother was “highly respected and deeply loved.’’

“Your mother was very important to me and my family. She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all.

“We shall miss her terribly,’’ Margrethe wrote in a letter to the new king. (dpa/NAN)

KN

Tags: Covid-19 Danish Queen Margrethe II Queen Elizabeth II