A New Year’s tradition at the heart of the Danish Royal Family’s annual celebrations returned with great splendour on New Year’s Day.
The annual levee and dinner for members of the Danish government and the court took place at Christian VII’s Palace in Amalienborg on the evening of 1 January.
Queen Margrethe was accompanied by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte for the glittering event. Princess Marie was reportedly unable to attend as she stayed back in Paris with sick son Count Henrik.
The Danish Royal Court shared on its official website: “The origins of today’s New Year’s [events are] lost, but already in the middle of the 17th century, the events around the turn of the year are referred to as an old custom, and the basic elements are still the same.”
In an Instagram post of the dinner set-up, the Royal Court shared: “This evening, it will be served on the Order of the Elephant in a chain. In addition, there is a silver plate on the table, where the main course is served. This custom dates back to the 1740s, where the first silver plates were purchased. When porcelain came into fashion, the silver plates were hidden away for a few centuries – but it was in his time Prince Henrik who reintroduced the custom of silver plates in the Danish royal house.”
Queen Margrethe will celebrate with further New Year’s gala events this week. On 3 January, she will host two levees: one for Denmark’s Supreme Court judges, Royal Life Guards, and Hussar Guard Regiment officers; and the other for the diplomatic corps, both attended by the Crown Prince Couple.
On 4 January, Queen Margrethe will travel in the Gold Carriage from Amalienborg to Christiansborg ahead of a levee for military personnel, emergency services personnel, national organisations and patronages.
