Royals confirm return of sparkling New Year’s traditions after pandemic

One of the most glittering and stately events on the Danish Royal Family’s calendar will return in 2022: the New Year’s Levees and the New Year’s Reception.

In a statement on the Danish Royal House’s website, they note: “For centuries, the Royal House and the Danes have wished each other a happy New Year. The origins of today’s New Year’s levee and New Year’s receptions are first mentioned in the 17^th century, and the basic elements of the New Year’s festivities are still the same to this day.”

The first event planned for 2022 will be the traditional New Year’s reception on 1 January at Amalienborg Palace. Queen Margrethe will host members of the Royal Family, the government, other dignitaries and court officials at Christian VII’s Palace. The dress code for the Royal Family will be white tie, with the Order of the Elephant regalia on display.

On 4 January, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will host two additional levees. That morning, they will host a small reception for Supreme Court Judges, Royal Life Guards, and Gardehus Regiment Officer Corps soldiers.

Later that evening, they will host a levee for the diplomatic corps at Christiansborg Palace. This reception will begin with a speech delivered by the ‘Doyen’ or the longest-serving Ambassador in Denmark. Afterwards, Queen Margrethe will give her thanks to the diplomatic corps and receive them alongside Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

Finally, on 5 January, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will host a New Year’s Levee for commanders of the Danish Armed Forces and the Danish Emergency Management Agency at Christiansborg Palace. They will also meet with representatives from Danish organisations and other patrons at smaller receptions at Fløjlsgemakket and Tronsalen, both located at Christiansborg Palace.

According to the Royal House, Queen Margrethe will travel to these levees in the Golden Carriage and will be escorted by the Guard House Regiment’s Horse Squadron.

In her New Year’s speech recalling 2020, Queen Margrethe said: “Tonight, we bid farewell to a strange year. We will not forget 2020. This year has been a trial by fire, but we have shown that when it comes to the crunch, we can stand together, and we manage to find moments of light in spite of deprivation and uncertainty.

“We are now entering 2021. I hope the new year will be a year that brings us many joys and where we continue to remember to be there for each other.”

Queen Margrethe has another major reason to celebrate in 2022 and hope for a change in circumstances: on 14 January, she will mark her Golden Jubilee, having ascended to the throne on that date in 1972.