Saying that there is "still much to do," Danish Queen Margrethe today said she has no plans to slow down or abdicate in favour of her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, dpa reported. "I will stay as long as I have the energy," the queen told reporters at a news conference at Fredensborg Palace. The queen turns 70 next week and said she looked forward to the event, noting that "turning 70 was a special round birthday" and could be compared to an exclamation mark. Asked how old she anticipated she would be, the queen replied she found it "hard to imagine that I will be 100." "I am a smoker and that is no secret," the queen said to the amusement of the reporters, adding that her health was good. The queen said she is confident that the Danish monarchy will continue under her son and grandson. A popular monarch, Margrethe has ruled since 1972.
