More cancellations in the daily program of the Danish Royal Family as a result of the ongoing pandemic have been announced. The Danish Royal Court has now confirmed to the Danish press that access to public audiences is affected by the coronavirus situation, meaning that many Danes will not get the opportunity to meet Queen Margrethe for the forseeable future.
The Royal Court says: “It is a difficult time with many challenges due to the corona situation, and for the royal family today it is sad to be forced to announce to many Danes that they will not be able to come to an audience”.
Under normal circumstances, public audiences are held many times each year, all year round. At the audiences, people who, for example, have received a royal medal or royal order without prior registration can attend and have the opportunity to personally thank Her Majesty Queen Margrethe. People who, for other reasons, have received a royal appointment to a position during the same period will similarly not be able to be received in an audience.
Due to the escalating coronavirus situation in Denmark, it has been necessary for the Royal Court to inform up to 2,000 people who have received a royal medal or order since the turn of the year, and who have not been in the audience before 11 March 2020, that they will not be able to come to an audience with the Queen at all. At a typical public audience, the ceremony usually sees around 70-80 people show up.
Instead of the audience, the people who would otherwise have had the opportunity to come in audience will receive a personal letter in which the Cabinet Secretary, on behalf of the Queen, thanks them for their efforts for Danish society. According to the Royal Court, it is still unknown when it will be medically justifiable to resume the public audiences.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark normally holds public audiences at Christiansborg Castle on a number of Mondays during the year. Upon arrival at Christiansborg Castle, an adjutant notes the name of the person present. The guest is then received by the cabinet secretary before the person is taken to the audience room, where the conversation with the Queen takes place. At public audiences, the Queen always wears a brooch, with the insignia of the Royal aDnish Order of the Elephant.
