On January 14, 2022, Queen Margrethe celebrated her 50th year on the Danish throne with a private dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen, which was attended by her sister, children, daughters-in law and grandchildren.
The Queen, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Prince Henrik, Princess Athena, Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix and Princess Benedikte were present at the dinner.
As something very special, the table was covered with the Flora Danica dinnerware, which is the most expensive Danish tableware. The last officially known occasion for its usage was the birthday party for Queen Ingrid in 1990. The collection – now consisting of approx. 1530 pieces – is one of the most well preserved and mainly used for exhibition.
.Although this is a fashion blog these photos are a delight to be featured on this site. It's fabulous the family have shared this private occasion. They all look dapper. CP Mary looks beautiful. Very impressed. Congratulations to QM. Mary
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyance to see these photos.
DeleteFashion, decor, tableware, a close-knit Royal family and all.
Well merited by Queen Margrethe.
Congratulations Madam.
Mary 9:19
DeleteI don't think CP Mary would be very happy with a recview of these historic pics in the future! /ML
Absolutely beautiful pictures! I find especially Benedikte stunning. Am I wrong or has Isabella that special teenager-who-is-not-that-much-into-family-dinners-expression on her face? ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes Possibly, maybe she was smiling just before the photo !!
DeleteBenedikte is the best, she looks marvelous! And Marie is a beauty. I had the same feeling about Isabella but who knows, picture is just a moment in time.
DeleteExactly what I was thinking! More or less a rather typical teenage girl.
DeleteMust have been a great feel for QM to be surrounded by her close family at this special occasion. All did their best to look very festive as well as smart. One sees joy on many of the faces.
ReplyDeleteMCS
Hmmm, I had always the feeling that Margrethe was not pleased with her family. Nice event, looks amazing, but still cannot help to get this feeling. I think being royal is a royal p-i-t-a.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know this because you have a crystal ball? Is she displeased with all of them, or just a few? The real p-i-t-a is your comment.
DeleteC.
A l'occasion de ce dรฎner privรฉ, nous pouvons admirer cette table dressรฉe dans un goรปt que j'adore et surtout avec cette magnifique vaisselle ; tout le monde est bien รฉlรฉgant mais j'aime particuliรจrement Mary ainsi Benedikte qui -comme d'habitude- a su choisir une robe dont la couleur lui va ร merveille ainsi que des bijoux dont des perles ; je crois voir des malachites qui tranchent dans un rang de son collier ? Trรจs belle broche avec des turquoises ?!
ReplyDeleteSorry but what's happened to Mary's face?
ReplyDeleteThe answer is easy. She can't move her forehead.
DeleteI wish I knew because she looks lovely!
DeleteJoachim on the other hand...
Hilda
My thoughts exactly. And I think the answer is too many face jobs, which make her eyes look smaller, and the cheek fillers are reshaping her face. Next she will will probably go for neck lifts, but first of all she will have to remove the band aid from her left cheek; look closer, and you can see a band aid still in place. :) - Ellie
DeleteI don't see anything wrong with her face
DeleteBeautiful pictures. We cannot see much of the royal ladies dresses but everyone (the princes included) look festive. This is the kind of dinnerware we only see at f.ex. exhibitions in the Imperial Palaces in Vienna
ReplyDeleteThe girls and the young men all look charming.I wonder if the food tastes better on the expensive dinner service.Queen Margarethe looks happy to have her family around her.I prefer flowers on the table,rather than bowls of fruit; in the olden days bowls of fruit were looked on as opulence,is fruit expensive in Denmark;I could send them some pineapples and plums a mango or two.The glasses on the table are mismatches; you don’t have crystal and then a silver goblet for water.I do like the young Princess’s smile .
ReplyDeleteThis tableware "Flora Danica" is the original - made in the late 18th century. It was intended to be a present from the Danish king to empress Catherine the Great of Russia. Unfortunately the empress died before the set was completed. The king kept the tableware and sent something else to her successor the new emperor who wasn't interested in art and design.
DeleteThe model is produced even today, but it is extremely expensive. But as I said this is the original, about 230 years old. Which also is the reason why it is used so seldom
In old days fruits were used as decoration - the tradition is followed here.
I presume that the glasses and goblets are from the same period (late 18th century) and as such match better than modern glassware.
I'd like to remind that queen Margrethe - besides being a reigning queen - is also an expert of art history. We can rely on her skills to choose the right items.
Margot
Margot
DeleteThank you.
I really enjoyed your accurate and eloquent comment.
Yes, the Flora Danica tableware is a a set of precious and jawdropping pieces,.
As a commenter said, this is the kind of tableware which can be found for example in Schloss Schoenbrunn or at the Hofburg, even though the pieces on display in Austria are quite different as to decorations , as far as I can remember.
I was used to go to Danemark and Norway for my holidays till 2019.
They are unique countries.
Nature is spectacular and people are so warm and friendly, not to mention the excellent local cuisine.
That's why I call them " the places of the soul".
Unfortunately, Covid has turned our lives and habits upside down.
Now I keep going there only for work so I do not have enough time left to tour places as I would like to.
I read that the dinner service is composed of 1.800 pieces. It was made in Denmark. More information and its history can be easily found on the net.
DeletePerhaps someone could give some information on what appears to be a teapot in photo N°7.
Is it there just for decoration or does someone at the table drink tea during the meal?
@Deadeggs: While the dinner service pieces closest to the diners are for use during the dinner, the ones further from reach are for display.
DeleteGiven how rarely this exquisite set gets an airing, it would make sense to show off some of the more unusual pieces (such as the tea pot, sugar bowl and the butter hive) when the opportunity arises.
- Anon 9:13
Deadeggs
DeleteI think this is not a teapot, but the Flora Danica coffepot plus its set.
It is not there for mere display but for a practical use.
Scandinavian countries including Danemark use huge quantities of coffee even in the evening.
The same happens in Norway.
Dear - Anon 9:13
DeleteThanks for the information about the tea pot.
What you say makes sense. Why hide these beautiful pieces when there is space on the table to show them off.
Details I have read on another site tell us that it is the first time in 30 years that the service has been used. It was used for the 80th anniversary of Queen Ingrid, the mother of Queen Margrethe.
Apparently it was planned to use the service for the 80th birthday of Queen Margrethe but the event was cancelled/postponed due to the Coronavirus problem.
I'm sorry but you can buy expensive clothes, a new face, sun tanned holiday legs.
ReplyDeleteBut you can't buy love.
Thinking where would you rather look like?
To a stuffy well preserved middle-aged woman.
Or to a 40+ woman which breaths such freshness and wears an art deco hat with her one and only french flair.
And with the indescribable sweet beauty of the heart.
Wearing of clothes in her very special way no military tank can beat.
Ra-ra-ra? -Anna-
I find this comparison of Mary vs Marie almost funny, because to me they are the most similar looking royal sisters-in-law there are. And they even have almost the same name to top it off!
DeletePersonally, I'd choose Benedikte. To look like that at 77 and to have that elegance!!
They are not similar at all. But the media wants us to think so. Marie once mentioned in an interview that they both laugh about it. They are total opposites as to looks, body shapes, style, background, personalities, and so on. Just because they both are brunettes with similar names doesn't make them alike.
DeleteI said they are the most similar-looking and have almost the same name. I don't know much about their personalities, background = obviously very different countries France and Australia, but both worked in marketing before joining the royal family, that's pretty similar.
DeleteThey are brunettes, wear their hair the same length and in a similar style, both have brown eyes, a similar figure, Marie is a little smaller but that's it. Birthday one day apart even, lol - 5th and 6th of February.
I don't get this form the media, I get this from looking at them.
They're familiar enough for people to get them mixed up all the time. Personally, I don't, I can also the difference. But if I didn't know these women and somebody told me they were sisters, I would believe it.
Instead of indescribable you can read - priceless -
DeleteBoth Josephine and Athene are look-a-likes, beautiful girls. -A-
I like how the cousins are all mixed here.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!!
DeleteThey all look gorgeous.
Congratulations Her Majesty!!
What a shame she doesn't think it is not important to smile on her grandmothers important day. We can say the click of the cameras was "wrong timing" then why not take another. It's not the first time I have seen that look on her face in photos, just saying, not happy.
ReplyDeleteTeenagers ....... Everyone else could make an effort, shame.
@Anna, put down that bottle!!
ReplyDeleteReading some of the comments above makes me lose faith in humanity. Most of us come to this site for fashion and to express our likes and dislikes. This people have shared their private dinner, and obviously we are interested because here we are… your mean comments about a teenager just for one image, pitting one woman against each other with incoherent ramblings, criticizing even the table setting ( without and o use of knowledge by the way). Pitiful!!
ReplyDeleteCB
I agree with you. I am surprised to see this post go astray. Who knew pictures of a grandmother with her entire family surrounding her to celebrate an important event in her life would elicit these comments. I thought the tangent would be the beautiful tablescape. The fashion intent of this blog has been getting lost more and more. I like the way CB put it: "...pitting one woman against each other with incoherent ramblings..." ~d
DeleteWell said CB.
DeleteSome of the commenters on this post remind me of an extended family member who can never find anything good to say about anything. You can show him a bright field of flowers on a sunny day and his comment will be that clouds and rain to destroy the flowers would be better. Volunteer to help him with something he is unable to do (like heavy lifting) and he'll point out that you're trying to make him look weak and helpless. Miserable as sin. Finding misery and negativity - and if there's none to find then make it up - makes some people feel secure. Sad.
- Anon 9:13
Wonderful family pictures.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the white tights of the Queen. Perhaps it was the light or the flash of the camera? Not a good choice.
My winner is Princess Josephine :-)
CC
I do not like the white tights of Queen Margrethe either. It was not the light or flash believe me. She did wear these tights before and always with the same kind of shoes. Even in summer I saw pictures of her with these white tights.
DeleteWhat a delightful post. The last group photo is my favorite. I love the Queen's gown with the ballet flats, and the pearls are gorgeous. What a treat this must have been for her. Princess Benedikte looks wonderful in her emerald green gown and pearls with emerald spacers. Her brooch is very pretty too. My next favorite is Marie in her black gown with silver threads. I cannot see enough of Mary's gown to comment other than the colors which are a regal purple and navy. All of the children and men look very nice. I particularly like Josephine's dress. She looks adorable.
ReplyDeleteI love both the Queen’s outfit ( aside from the white stockings ) and her sister’s. Benedikte is always a model of elegance. And I’m struck by how tall Frederick’s son is! My goodness, he towers over his father. (V.M.)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful family photos of a very important day in the life of HM--she looks so happy to be surrounded by her sister, her sons, their wives, and all her grandchildren! Everyone looks marvelous and using special Flora Danica service was a lovely added touch. Speaking of Princess Benedikte--that gorgeous green velvet gown--how elegant. Love Mary's vibrant purple too--its a wonderful color for her. Josephine and Athena look so pretty in their special dresses--very much princess dresses. Can't see too much of Isabella's and Marie's gowns but they both look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful photos. Pss Bene looks outstanding, I love her green velvet gown and choice of jewels, stunning, she looks so elegant.
ReplyDeleteLittle Princess Athena looks so sweet in her white sparkly dress!! So sweet!! And little Princess Josephine is so sweet too!! Lovely family!! And Princess Isabella just wasn't feeling it. LOL
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I have not been able to log onto this site for the last three days--and I was panicking that it might have gone for good. Love the photos and enjoy the comments, including those who go bizarrely over the top in their support of or attack on certain royals.
ReplyDeleteDelightful photos of the Queen on her big day with all her family around. Again I would have Princess Benedikte as the star---as said above to look as she does on your late seventies is certainly something to be envied. Prince Vincent remains, in my view the best looking of the grandchildren but what a handsome young man Prince Felix has grown into. Great to see the fantastic china too. Thanks, Helen.
That happened to me too, I just couldn't reach the site and I thought same as you - that this site disppeared.
DeleteThat happened to me as well.so glad it is back. Everyone here looks lovely in support and celebration of Queen Margrethe:).
DeletePeople are too severe on poor Isabella- look to the photographer. Group shots are so tough and you end up picking the one with the least awkward faces. As someone wisely said earlier it is a split second in time. How many shots were taken? No one knows but usually many more for group shots. Sometimes your cheeks ache from all the smiling, sucking them in helps between takes- but if you get caught a face like this can easily happen. It was the case in our last set of family photos which had 25 people representing 4 generations. With the photo technology they have I am surprised they didn’t blend her look from another photo but maybe they were too hurried to get it published.
Everyone looks lovely from what I can see. Pr. Benedikte and Mary are my 2 favorite looks. Love their colors.
Glo
@Ellie, what Band - Aid? I have looked and enlarged the pictures, put on my good reading glasses and still fail to see it. Either I need to see and ophthalmologist or you should start writing for the tabloids.
ReplyDeleteCherry
Yes, @Ellie. If you can see a Band-Aid on Princess Mary's face, then your eyesight is much better than mine.
DeleteAs @Cherry said, if you can sell a scoop like that to the tabloids, you could make a fortune.
Click on the picture with Mary sitting at the table. She is wearing a band aid on her left cheek, towards the corner of the mouth. The blusher on her cheeks is missing in that bit. - Why the snide remarks about me writing for tabloids because I notice Mary has blusher missing on her left cheek on the corner of her mouth, and there seems to be a band aid, judging by what band aids look like? - Ellie
Delete@Ellie I see the missing blush, and a circular mark. I do not see a band-aid. I don't know what it means, actually. All I can really say is that I find it odd that all professional photos are touched up and the post production on this is poorly done. If it was a band-aid, it was smoothed over, but the makeup was not fixed. That seems like a no-brainer to me. It is an easy fix. She also could have dabbed her face and rubbed off her makeup in that spot. I suppose the mystery continues. ~d
DeleteD at 19.39; fair enough. It may be photo-shop gone wrong, because nobody applies rouge in such a manner. - To me it looks like a round band aid, or similar. - Yes, the plot thickens, but the good thing is that this is no serious stuff! :) - Ellie
DeleteHow lovely that Queen Margrethe was able to celebrate her Golden Jubilee with a family dinner.
ReplyDeleteThe children have grown up so quickly. Princess Isabella is growing into a beauty just like her mother.
Lovely photos and I particularly like how the staff who were attending the family were included in one of the photos as this would be a memorable occasion in their working lives too.
The children, teenagers look nice, the adults are well dressed, but I have to say Princess Benedikte is exquisite with her gown and jewelry. The table setting has not been used for a long time, all the pieces are quite interesting. Wonder why the fruit, instead of flowers in the bowls. jj
ReplyDeleteLes verres VERT en cristal de Baccarat sont agrรฉables ร regarder, le Prince hรฉritier gagnerait ร รชtre coiffรฉ avec une raie sur le cรดtรฉ.
ReplyDeleteMARIAMAR
I know nobody will agree but i think this is an useless display of richness. The queen could have celebrated her jubilee privately. In 2022 monarchies must move on. The time of crystal glasses and precious porcelaines should be over.
ReplyDelete/W. W.
Really?
Delete๐๐๐๐
I agree. A 'private dinner' with a rich table setting and pictures published from. What's the private bit, if it's published on the net? I hope this lot at least know what a private dinner with the closest family looks like. This dinner looks stiff and stuffy. - Ellie
DeleteEllie
DeleteI do not think that the Royal Family wants to be totally private on this very special occasion.
Margrethe is adored by her people and she loves her people in her turn so she may want to let them know how her family is celebrating this happy occasion.
There is a very special bond between the monarchs and their peoples in the Scandinavian countries.
The dinner is not stiff, it is regal.
Margrethe wants her people to take a little part in her celebration and joy.
Being private means that it is not intended to be a state dinner with other heads of state/ monarchs from other countries.
It is a dinner for the Royal Family only given the current Covid restrictions.
This is a private dinner. Good lord! It is just family. A few pictures were released to share with the country because that is what is done. She has a very public job, and she is celebrating a very big anniversary. A Golden Jubilee would typically be celebrated nation wide. A few pictures are a very big compromise. The dinnerware was not purchased for this occasion. It was purchased as a gift, in another time, and never given. If the dinnerware exists, should it just sit, packed away? I think it is a very nice idea that it is being brought out for the most special occasions. If anything, the pandemic has forced us to scale events down to the most basic concept. It doesn't mean we can't bring out our best dinnerware. ~d
DeleteHeart warming pictures of a lovely family celebration. I wish I would have a table/ room this big to sit the entire family down to dinner on those special occasions. We always have to split in two or 3 tables at my home.
ReplyDeleteI won't waste time and energy criticizing looks, smiles or the lack thereof on such a nice family occasion.
They all look great, the winners to me are Josephine and Athena in their festive dresses.
Isabella reminds me of my own grand daughter, she often has the same look on her face that can break into a big smile, and CP Mary is just not the type for these big huge smiles, she always was like that. I doubt she had anything done on her face. Marie always seems more relaxed and natural to me, but that's just my impression.
Glad the site is up and running again.
Congratulations to the wonderful Queen of Denmark! Beautiful photos of the family dinner with her closest family.
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