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Denmark

Danish Royal Family attends New Year’s Receptions

As they do every year, the Danish Royal Family attended several New Year’s receptions in the first week of January.

On January 1st, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, and Princess Marie attended the traditional New Year’s Gala Dinner at Amalienborg Palace. This reception is held for members of the government, the country’s top officials and members of the Court. This dinner is an ancient tradition, dating back to at least 1693 when King Christian V created the two highest orders in Denmark, the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog. January 1st became the day of the orders, and the dinner originally celebrated the Knights of the Orders. This is the only event of the year where the Danish Royal Family wears the gold collar of the Order of the Elephant and not the blue sash.

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Following this gala dinner, Queen Margrethe hosts several New Year’s receptions at Amalienborg and Christianborg Palaces. This tradition of New Year’s receptions taking place over two days began after the First World War.

On January 3rd, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik, and Crown Princes Mary attended a reception for the Supreme Court judges, the Royal Guard and the Guard Hussar Regiment Officer Corps at Amalienborg Palace. Afterwards, they attended a dinner for the Diplomatic Corps at Christianborg Palace.

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On January 4th, Queen Margrethe and the Crown Prince couple attended a reception for officers of the Armed Forces, the Emergency Management Agency, I., II. and III. rank class and invited representatives of major national organisations and patronage at Christiansborg Palace. Traditionally, during this second day of receptions, Queen Margrethe goes from Amalienborg Palace to Christiansborg Palace in the gold carriage from the Royal Danish Stables escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron. This tradition was started in 1976. The gold carriage is covered with 24-carat gold leaf, has four gilded crowns on the roof and a painted coat of arms on the doors.