Queen Margrethe and Princess Marie attended the 75th anniversary of DEMA

Queen Margrethe and Princess Marie of Denmark attended the 75th anniversary of DEMA (Danish Emergency Management Agency) by attending a reception at the agency’s headquarters in Birkeroe. While Princess Marie was in uniform, Queen Margrethe wore the charcoal grey trilby.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid, b. 16.4.1940, Queen of Denmark since 1972, daughter of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid

Margrethe was born at Amalienborg Palace and, being a woman, she was not heir to the throne.

The new Law of Succession adopted in 1953 along with a revision of the Constitution opened the way for female succession. Thus, on her 18th birthday in 1958 Margrethe took her place in the State Council as heir to the throne.

Crown Princess Margrethe took her matriculation examination in 1959 and the same year completed training as a squad leader in the Women's Flying Corps. In 1960-65 she studied at the universities of Copenhagen, Cambridge, Aarhus, Sorbonne and London, focusing on political science and archaeology.

In 1967 she married the French diplomat, Comte Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, Prince Henrik, and together the couple has two sons, Frederik (b. 1968) and Joachim (b. 1969). On the death of Frederik IX on the 14th January 1972, Margrethe II ascended the throne.

The Queen has engaged in translation work and made her mark artistically in several genres. As a textile artist she has created episcopal copes for Viborg Diocese and Elsinore Diocese (1986 and 1989) and chasubles for Fredensborg Castle Church (1976) and other churches.

As a graphic artist Queen Margrethe has illustrated several books, and she designed the costumes for TV Theatre's performance of The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (1987). One of her major works was the set design for the ballet A Folk Tale (1991). The Queen is also a respected painter, and since 1988 her works has been displayed at several exhibitions.

Queen Margrethe has made a point of knowing and reaching out to all parts of the realm, and the Faroe Islands and Greenland are some of her favourite destinations. The Queen has also succeeded in giving her traditional New Year Message a strongly personal touch, which has helped to consolidate her popularity.

Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen is the official royal residence, Marselisborg Castle near Aarhus works as a summer residence. Fredensborg Castle in North Zealand is used in spring and autumn. Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik also acquired a more private abode in 1974, when they purchased the Château de Caïx in Cahors, where Prince Henrik, among others, grew his own vine.