Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is celebrating her Golden Jubilee throughout 2022 with a series of special events in September to mark the occasion. But the actual anniversary of the start of her reign came during a Covid spike meaning that the historic day itself was commemorated in a low key way.
On Friday 14 January, 50 years to the day her reign began, Queen Margrethe attended a session of the Council of State at Christiansborg Castle with her elder son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik. Afterwards, she was accompanied by the Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte, for a parliamentary celebration of her accession.
Following this, Queen Margrethe visited the Roskilde Cathedral in Copenhagen to lay a wreath on the grave of her father, King Frederik X, whose sudden illness and death led to his daughter becoming Denmark’s first modern queen regnant at the age of 31.
Queen Margrethe still managed to celebrate her Golden Jubilee throughout the year. At the end of January, she opened an exhibition dedicated to her reign in jewellery. The exhibit, entitled “A Queen’s Jewellery Box” is now on display to the public until 23 October.
Queen Margrethe was joined by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, as well as Princess Benedikte, for the opening of the exhibit at Amalienborg Museum. In it, over 200 pieces of jewellery from the personal collection of Queen Margrethe are on display—though because she’s frequently in need of jewellery, some are on a rotating display to suit her needs.
Queen Margrethe narrated the Danish version of the guided audio tour, and lectures were held throughout the year to discuss her Golden Jubilee.
In May she carried out engagements at Tivoli to celebrate, first planting a jubilee tree at the Pantomime Theatre at Tivoli Gardens and then attending a ballet gala performance at the Tivoli Concert Hall with members of the royal family in attendance.
Queen Margrethe has also carried out her annual summer tour of Denmark aboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog, with Golden Jubilee engagements scheduled in the various municipalities.
The main Golden Jubilee weekend takes place on 10-11 September with members of the Danish Royal Family, Scandinavian Royal Families, and Danish government officials in attendance. These events include a changing of the guard ceremony complete with balcony appearance at Christian IX’s Palace, an official lunch at Copenhagen City Hall and an evening at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen on September 10.
On Sunday 11 September, Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee will continue with a church service at Our Lady’s Church in Copenhagen followed by a gala dinner in the evening at Christiansborg Castle, which will be broadcast on Danish television.
