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Denmark

Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s sarcophagus completed

Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s sarcophagus has been completed and been placed in Sankt Birgittas Chapel in Roskilde Domkirke. It will be there that she will lay upon her death alongside close to 40 Danish kings and queens going back to the early Middle Ages up to present day – including her parents, King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid.

Construction began in 2003 in what was initially a joint sarcophagus for Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, who died earlier this year. However, it was announced in 2016 that the Prince did not want to be buried with his wife as she had not made him her equal by naming him “King Consort” instead of “Prince Consort.” The Royal Danish House said the Prince’s decision last year did not cause any changes to the work of art being called “Sarkofag.”

The being sarcophagus placed in the chapel. Keld Navntoft, Kongehuset ©

Sarkofag was designed by sculptor Professor Bjørn Nørgaard, and he worked closely with Her Majesty and His Late Royal Highness on its design which includes nods to their joint work and marriage over 50 years. Its funding has been kept within the Folketing’s stipulated appropriation in the Finance Act.

A sketch released by the Royal House of its design. Sketch of Bjørn Nørgaard ©

The Royal House explained, “The socket is made of sandstone from France, and the three pillars carrying the sarcophagus are in Danish granite, Faroese basalt and Greenland marble. The elephant heads on the pillars are moulded in silver. The sarcophagus itself is in cast glass, and in a cavity in the glass, there are two left-handed figures on the inside, representing the Queen and Prince Henrik.On top are allegories, heraldry and symbols in gold-plated bronze.”

The covering. Keld Navntoft, Kongehuset ©

Queen Margrethe will lay in a crypt under the Sarkofag. The Royal House also explained that while her body lies in state, “a cover has been made that allows the visitor of the cathedral to visit the chapel, even if the tomb is set.”

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.