"Queen Margrethe II's Last Golden Carriage Ride Before Historic Danish Abdication"

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has made her final public appearance as the country's monarch, riding in a gold-leaf encrusted carriage to a New Year's reception before her unexpected abdication on January 14. The Queen's decision to step down, announced in her New Year's speech, will end her reign and pass the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. This marks the first abdication of a European monarch in nearly 900 years. The move has sparked discussions about modernizing the monarchy and has coincided with rumors of Crown Prince Frederik's alleged affair, which have been denied.