While there are obviously royal birthdays scattered throughout the year, some days seem to attract the celebrations. And it turns out that 16 April is the birthday to have with four royals celebrating.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe is marking her 85th birthday and her royal family shared some striking new portraits for the day. Margrethe was born in 1940 to the future King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid but didn’t get rights to the throne until 1953 when new legislation now allowed women to hold a place in the line of succession. She went on to reign from 14 January 1972 to 14 January 2024, when she abdicated in favour of her son, now King Frederik X.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg is also marking a milestone birthday on Wednesday, his 70th. He was born in 1955 to the future Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.
His reign began on 7 October 2000 after his father’s abdication; Henri will be abdicating on 3 October 2025 in favour of his son, Guillaume so this is his last birthday as a ruler. To mark the moment, a series of portraits of him and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, were released.
Henri shares a birthday with his youngest child, Prince Sébastien, who is marking his 33rd birthday on April 16 2025. He is currently serving in the military.
The youngest royal to celebrate a birthday on 16 April is Princess Eléonore, the fourth child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, who turns 17. And, you’ve guessed it, there were new photos of the princess to mark her big day.
