Emperor Abdication

Following the announcement by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II of her plans to relinquish the throne, AFP looks at other memorable abdications over the past century.

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on Wednesday, a day after his father's historic abdication, and vowed to stand with the people as the country begins a new imperial era.

A new era dawned in Japan on Wednesday as Naruhito officially became emperor at midnight following his father's historic abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne, the world's oldest monarchy.

Outgoing Japanese emperor Akihito on Tuesday performed the main ritual to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son Naruhito -- Japan's first abdication in more than two centuries.

Japanese Emperor Akihito will abdicate on Tuesday in favour of his elder son, ending a three-decade reign during which he sought to ease the painful memories of World War Two and engage with people, including the marginalised in society.

For the Emperor's abdication on April 30, Japanese workers will enjoy an unprecedented 10-day holiday as a rash of special days off combine with the traditional "Golden Week" in May. But not everyone is popping the champagne corks in famously workaholic Japan.

The abdication of Japan's Emperor Akihito next year will be quite literally the end of an era, the Heisei era of his rule, and behind closed doors, talks on the next era have begun

The last emperor of China, Pu Yi, abdicated in 1912. He was the 12th emperor of the historically important Qing dynasty, which lasted 267 years. With his departure, two millenniums of empire, usually with a single individual dominating all of China, ended. Since then, the nation has moved toward an authoritarian system under Communist Party control...

Shinzo Abe said he was "deeply moved" at the "smooth decision" taken after a special meeting of the Imperial Council to decide on the date for the popular 83-year-old to step down for health reasons.

Japan's Emperor Akihito is likely to abdicate at the end of March 2019 and Crown Prince Naruhito is expected to ascend the throne in April, the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in nearly two centuries, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday

Japan's 83 year old Emperor Akihito recently expressed his desire to step down from his position. In response the Japanese parliament passed a law to allow for the first imperial abdication in Japan in more than two centuries. These are five things to know about the Japanese royals.

Japan's parliament passed a law Friday that clears the way for its ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, in what would be the first imperial abdication in more than two centuries.

Japan's lower house of parliament passed a bill Friday that allows ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, as it also called for a rare debate on the role of women in the male-dominated monarchy.

The Japanese government on Friday approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, in the first such abdication in two centuries.

A Japanese government panel studying a possible abdication of Emperor Akihito is set to release Monday an interim report that supports enacting special legislation that is applicable only to him.

Following the announcement by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II of her plans to relinquish the throne, AFP looks at other memorable abdications over the past century.

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on Wednesday, a day after his father's historic abdication, and vowed to stand with the people as the country begins a new imperial era.

A new era dawned in Japan on Wednesday as Naruhito officially became emperor at midnight following his father's historic abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne, the world's oldest monarchy.

Outgoing Japanese emperor Akihito on Tuesday performed the main ritual to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son Naruhito -- Japan's first abdication in more than two centuries.

Japanese Emperor Akihito will abdicate on Tuesday in favour of his elder son, ending a three-decade reign during which he sought to ease the painful memories of World War Two and engage with people, including the marginalised in society.

For the Emperor's abdication on April 30, Japanese workers will enjoy an unprecedented 10-day holiday as a rash of special days off combine with the traditional "Golden Week" in May. But not everyone is popping the champagne corks in famously workaholic Japan.

The abdication of Japan's Emperor Akihito next year will be quite literally the end of an era, the Heisei era of his rule, and behind closed doors, talks on the next era have begun

The last emperor of China, Pu Yi, abdicated in 1912. He was the 12th emperor of the historically important Qing dynasty, which lasted 267 years. With his departure, two millenniums of empire, usually with a single individual dominating all of China, ended. Since then, the nation has moved toward an authoritarian system under Communist Party control...

Shinzo Abe said he was "deeply moved" at the "smooth decision" taken after a special meeting of the Imperial Council to decide on the date for the popular 83-year-old to step down for health reasons.

Japan's Emperor Akihito is likely to abdicate at the end of March 2019 and Crown Prince Naruhito is expected to ascend the throne in April, the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in nearly two centuries, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday

Japan's 83 year old Emperor Akihito recently expressed his desire to step down from his position. In response the Japanese parliament passed a law to allow for the first imperial abdication in Japan in more than two centuries. These are five things to know about the Japanese royals.

Japan's parliament passed a law Friday that clears the way for its ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, in what would be the first imperial abdication in more than two centuries.

Japan's lower house of parliament passed a bill Friday that allows ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, as it also called for a rare debate on the role of women in the male-dominated monarchy.

The Japanese government on Friday approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, in the first such abdication in two centuries.

A Japanese government panel studying a possible abdication of Emperor Akihito is set to release Monday an interim report that supports enacting special legislation that is applicable only to him.