The Danish Royal Court announced yesterday that over the next three days they will publish new photographs in celebration of Queen Margrethe’s 80th birthday this Thursday. On Tuesday, the Royal Court released a new series of portraits with the Queen, her son, Crown Prince Frederik and her grandson, Prince Christian – three generations of Danish monarchs, present and future.
Today’s images were two portraits of Her Majesty The Queen taken in the fall and winter of 2019 at Amalienborg as well as at Fredensborg Palace. Two portraits were released today, and additional photos will be released on Thursday morning.
The pictures from Tuesday have received a mixed response in Denmark with some thinking they are too pompous. Danish royal expert, Søren Jakobsen told to the Danish newspaper EX: “I know Abrahamsen, and he is a super photographer, but these pictures are a bit pompous. He has been a little too honoured for the task because it falls a bit outside of what he usually does.”
Art historian and expert in royal portraits, Thyge Christian Fønss-Lundberg is more positive. He told to the newspaper: “These are some nice pictures, and there is some pride in them. Especially the picture where Margrethe holds the shoulders of Frederik and Christian. After all, we are not used to seeing our queen show great emotions, so I think it is good to see.”
Per Morten Abrahamsen is best known for his staged photography, which often breaks the frame of the traditional portrait. The portrait series is designed as an interaction between the photographer’s research and proposals as well as the Queen’s own wishes.
There will be a completely different celebration of Queen Margrethe’s 80th birthday than planned on the basis of the coronavirus. On April 16, Queen Margrethe will turn 80-years-old. The Danish Queen had planned to celebrate the day with pomp and splendour. Carriage rides, a reception at Copenhagen City Hall and a private dinner and dance at Fredensborg Palace had been planned, and royals from all over the world were expected to attend. It was announced earlier in March that the grand birthday celebration had been cancelled.
