All eyes will be on Denmark’s Royal Family in the first six weeks of 2022, with both Queen Margrethe and Crown Princess Mary fêted for milestone anniversaries.
Queen Margrethe will celebrate her Golden Jubilee between 10-16 January (the actual anniversary of her accession to the throne is 14 January), and Crown Princess Mary will celebrate her 50th birthday with events beginning on 27 January and lasting until 4 February (her actual birthday is 5 February).
Let’s take a look at all of the events the Danish Royal Family have announced so far for these events and break down what you can expect at each.
Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee: 10-16 January 2022
10 January: On 10 January, Queen Margrethe will host a press conference at Amalienborg. No further details have been announced for this engagement but presumably will be a chance for the press to discuss her historic reign with The Queen.
13 January: Queen Margrethe will officially open an exhibit at the Royal Danish Collection, the Amalienborg Museum, called “A Queen’s Jewel Case.”
Queen Margrethe will voice an audio guide for visitors and will explain the histories behind some of the 200 jewellery pieces chosen for the exhibit. Each piece has been selected for a story it tells about an event during Queen Margrethe’s 50-year reign.
The exhibit will open to the public on 14 January and runs until 23 October 2022.
14 January (Accession Date): Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik will begin the milestone day with a Council of State session at Christiansborg Palace.
Later, The Queen, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will attend Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Danish Parliament.
Finally, Queen Margrethe will lay a wreath at her parents’ gravesite, Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, to honour the 50th anniversary of her father’s death.
15 January: In the morning, Queen Margrethe and the Royal Family will appear on the balcony at Christian IX’s Palace at Amalienborg for the Changing of the Guard at noon.
Afterwards, Queen Margrethe will ride in a coach to Copenhagen City Hall for an official luncheon and a balcony appearance.
In the evening, The Queen and the Royal Family will attend a command performance at the Old Stage of the Danish Royal Theatre; with Queen Margrethe arriving by coach from Amalienborg, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s Mounted Squadron.
This performance will be televised by DR.
16 January: The final day of Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee celebrations will begin with a church service at the Church of Our Lady – Copenhagen Cathedral.
Finally, Queen Margrethe will host a gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace for the Danish Royal Family, foreign royals and guests, and Danish officials. This dinner will be televised on TV 2.
Though these are the core events for Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee, the Royal House has announced that there will be celebratory events held throughout Denmark over the course of 2022 and that Queen Margrethe will give interviews, participate in television documentaries, and participate in book releases to further mark this milestone.
Further plans for the Golden Jubilee year will be announced at a later date by the Danish Royal Court.
Crown Princess Mary’s 50th Birthday: 27 January-4 February
27 January: Crown Princess Mary’s official birthday programme begins, fittingly, with an event hosted by the Mary Foundation, which she founded immediately following her 2004 wedding and introduction to royal life.
The Mary Foundation will host a birthday celebration for Crown Princess Mary, inviting its partners and charity network to celebrate their chairperson and discuss ways that they can all collaborate in the future to create “a society where everyone feels that they belong.”
31 January: Crown Princess Mary will officially open a new exhibition about her life and the women who have held the title of Crown Princess of Denmark at Koldinghus.
“Mary and the Crown Princesses” will feature Crown Princess Mary and her four immediate predecessors: Louise of Hesse-Kassel, Lovisa of Sweden-Norway, Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Ingrid of Sweden.
Crown Princess Mary has recorded herself discussing her role as Crown Princess and the women who came before her, and the projection will be displayed on the walls throughout the exhibit, giving tourists the impression that she is there with them.
According to Koldinghus, Crown Princess Mary says, “A crown princess faces the challenge of occupying an absolutely central position in a foreign country. You need to learn a new language and a new culture while under close public scrutiny – and you are keenly aware of how much there is to live up to. But you also have great opportunity for shaping your own role.”
Among the items on display relating to Crown Princess Mary’s royal life include her Ruby Parure and the blue dress and headband that she wore to Prince Christian’s christening in 2006.
Crown Princess Mary has also supplied personal photographs for the exhibit, ranging from family photos to work photos with her patronages and pictures she’s taken while travelling throughout Denmark.
“Mary and the Crown Princesses” will be open to the public between 1 February and 30 December 2022.
3 February: Crown Princess Mary will open another exhibition on her life at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Palace.
“HRH Crown Princess Mary 1972-2022” will be a more Mary-focused exhibit that touches upon her personal life and history and how she has worked for Denmark in her royal role. Many photos, portraits, and personal items from Crown Princess Mary’s collection will be displayed.
Crown Princess Mary will also unveil a new portrait of herself to mark this occasion.
“HRH Crown Princess Mary 1972-2022” will be open to the public from 4 February to 31 August 2022.
4 February: Crown Princess Mary will be celebrated at a gala banquet at Rosenborg Palace on the night before her birthday.
Queen Margrethe will host the event, with guests including the Royal Family and other Danish representatives.
5 February: Crown Princess Mary will celebrate her 50th birthday on this date.
The Danish Royal House has also announced that further events to celebrate Crown Princess Mary’s 50th birthday will be shared later.
