My guess is we will see more state visits carried out by the Queen and the Crown Prince together. So there will be need for a Rigsforstander. And with both Joachim and Benedikte not living in Denmark - at least in theory regarding Benedikte - and Benedikte already being 75 , it seems sensible to have a third option, the Crown Princess.
My guess is that the precedence among those who can be rigsforstander in theory stays as it was until now. First Joachim - if he happens to be in the counry, then Benedikte. Because they already have experience. If both are not in DK which is very likely, CP Mary will step in.
This IMO will change when Frederik becomes king.
That's a very good point.
QMII will be in need of a "consort" when on state-visits. It's hard enough as it is, but even harder on your own. And indeed, who better than Frederik?
Benedikte is the perfect Princess. She has always known when to step aside and do it gracefully, with dignity and no hard feelings. She will step aside for Mary as well, if that is the appropriate thing to do.
Joachim, well, by this time next year, we will know...
The news has been well-received here in DK. There is seemingly full confidence in Mary being able to fulfill that role - it's after all
head of state, we are talking about! In theory she could be head of state for months in some of the worst case scenarios.
It's hardly talk of the town, but when talked about it's my impression people think it's deserved, appropriate and have faith in her.
The royal experts seem to agree that this is a part of a modernization of the DRF, including gender equality. - Personally I don't buy that one.
I firmly believe Mary was vetted and approved as Rigsforstander, because she was found competent (in DK competent is a very positive term) and because the politicians in particular have full confidence in her.
PH, while very popular for extended periods, was a bit, how to put it, unsteady in regards to how he defined his role and even more crucial IMO, while people had confidence in him as consort (most of the time) I doubt very much that feeling was extended to include him in the role as acting head of state.
I think this is not a question about modernization, but of ice-cold practicality.
Daily Mail has the story as well:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...en-Denmark-regent-Danish-royal-Margrethe.html
QMII is the most outspoken monarch regarding abdications. She sees her position as a job for life.
Recently she actually said that she sees it as a job for life unless a serious health issue would force her to stop.
Likely with Prince Henrik's dementia as a painful reminder that the mental health can also force you to stop at some point even if your physical health is still good.
She and The Crown Prince will likely continue to share the duties. The Crown Prince already has a lot of the duties that doesn't require the monarch's presence, and could easily take over the throne tomorrow should it become necessary.
In the latest interview with her, she was again asked about abdicating. And she did indeed emphasize that only her health would lead to her abdicating.
However, if she is planning to abdicate, she would naturally deny that until the very moment it is announced. Otherwise it would be a huge sensation! And people would basically only wait for her to abdicate.
But, if she does have plans about abdicating while her health is still good, she could easily have dodged that question.
And she has left a door half-open: When does her health prevents her from fulfilling her task as monarch? That's basically up to the doctors -
or QMII herself...