Queen Mary kicks off the holiday season by unveiling Denmark’s Christmas stamp

Tis the season… well, almost. But Queen Mary helped kick off the festive season when she unveiled this year’s Christmas stamp in support of the Christmas Stamp Foundation.

‘Christmas Hope and Wishing Stars’ is the title of the new Christmas stamp, which features a “magical winter landscape” dotted with elves, animals and trees.

It was designed by children’s book author and illustrator Emilie Melgaard Jacobsen, who said in an interview on the Foundation’s website that “I am very grateful that I have been chosen to design this year’s Christmas stamp. It is a deeply felt honor and a great recognition, but it is also a great responsibility. I have put great and strong emotions into the motif.”

Queen Mary joined Melgaard Jacobsen for the presentation ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall, and even spotted some of her relatives as she walked in. Count Ingolf and Countess Sussie were also in attendance. Count Ingolf is the son of the late Knud, who was known as the Hereditary Prince of Denmark.

Famously, he was displaced from the role of heir apparent after Denmark changed its laws of succession in 1953, which allowed for women to inherit the throne. Count Ingolf lost his title in 1968 when he married for the first time, having chosen not to seek permission to marry.

The Danish Christmas Stamp supports young people experiencing bullying and loneliness throughout the year by providing safe spaces for them to learn from trusted adults about healthy habits, coping skills, and being part of a community.

The Danish Christmas Stamp dates back to 1904 and is designed annually with a nod towards the country’s history while also celebrating the yuletide and helping young people.

Queen Mary has been patron of the Christmas Stamp Foundation since shortly after her 2004 wedding. It was one of her earliest patronages and she has continued her support over the ensuing decades, visiting the Christmas Stamp Houses in the off-season and unveiling each year’s stamp in the beginning of October.