Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee celebrations continued in Copenhagen on Saturday with a special lunch held in her honour at City Hall.
Joined by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, Princess Benedikte, and Count Ingolf of Rosenborg and Countess Sussie of Rosenborg, Queen Margrethe’s year-long celebrations continued.
The luncheon had been delayed twice this year. First, due to the pandemic when Queen Margrethe’s initial Golden Jubilee celebrations were due to be held back in January, and then again in early September when Queen Elizabeth II passed away, and Queen Margrethe cancelled the event out of respect.
The Queen departed Christian IX’s Palace at Amalienborg Palace, riding in Christian IX’s Golden Wedding Carriage, which dates back to 1892, and the 50th wedding anniversary of King Christian IX and Queen Louise.
Queen Margrethe has ridden in this carriage previously during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1997. During her procession on Saturday, she was escorted by the Guardhussar Regiment’s Horse Squadron.
Upon arrival, Queen Margrethe greeted the crowds gathered outside from the City Hall balcony before entering and enjoying lunch and musical accompaniment from the Copenhagen Boys’ Choir, Zapolski Strings and Vesterbro Ungdomsgård.
In a short speech, Queen Margrethe said: “I would like to thank the Lord Mayor for the beautiful words on the occasion of my 50th government anniversary and for the gift that Copenhagen is giving me. I hope that the many cherry trees may thrive and bloom for the joy of many, many people. Under them, the children will play, people will go for a walk or experience large public gatherings, young people – and the elderly – will rush off to keep fit in the early hours of the morning, yes, all day long and into the evening.
“It is good to think about: May the little trees experience many, many years, and may the city of Copenhagen thrive and flourish for many more years than a cherry tree can hope for.”
Queen Margrethe is now the longest-reigning European monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
