Margrethe II,the 'Ashtray Queen' Related to Queen Elizabeth II

Publish date: 2024-06-20

When Queen Elizabeth II died, her role as the longest-reigning living monarch in Europe was inherited by her distant cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Queen Elizabeth II and Danish Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attend a reception at the Natural History Museum on February 17, 2000. Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, aged 96. During her 70-year reign, she picked up a few unofficial royal titles, including the longest-reigning living monarch.

Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who has reigned for almost 55 years, is now the world's longest-reigning living monarch, according to the Daily Mail. But in Europe specifically, the Queen's distant cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, is now the longest-reigning monarch alive.

The Queen and Margrethe, 83, were third cousins and related via Queen Victoria, Tatler reports. But they weren't just relatives, they were friends. According to The Independent, the Danish queen was the first international royal to send a letter of condolence to King Charles III.

"I send you and Camilla my warmest thoughts and prayers," Margrethe said, according to the publication. "She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all. We shall miss her terribly."

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