‘Queen Mary’ takes centre stage! Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turn out for annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage’

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has shocked royal watchers around the world and ended her 52 years on the throne by abdicating.

The move means that her son, formerly Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife Mary are now king and queen.

Her choice of date makes her decision particularly public, as the Danish Royals held a New Year's Eve dinner and banquet tonight.

While Queen Margrethe appeared cheerful as she arrived at the event at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, it was the new queen who stole the show.

She arrived at the event with her husband, the new king, looking radiant in a maroon velvet dress and elaborate tiara.

HISTORIC REIGN: The former queen, Margrethe, also appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the event following her shocking abdication after 52 years on the throne

The royal couple, Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured, left) and King Frederik (pictured, right) appear relaxed about the important decision

Queen Margrethe of Denmark announced her shock abdication in her New Year's Eve address to the nation, marking the end of her era as Europe's longest-serving monarch.

But when Margrethe's son, Crown Prince Frederik, 54, takes the throne on January 14, it will mark another huge change among Europe's major monarchies – as they will all have male heads of state.

Although the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the abdication of Queen Margrethe marked a shift in power from tough female figures to male monarchs, the future of Europe's royal households is female, as almost every heir to the throne is now a woman.

From Princess Leonor of Spain to Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands: the next generation of royals is decidedly female.

The shocking abdication follows a tumultuous moment for the family: