It was one of the most glamorous events in this year’s social calendar, with royals from around Europe gathering in Copenhagen to celebrate Prince Christian’s 18th birthday.
The glitzy gala at Christiansborg Castle was an opportunity for future Kings and Queens to mingle with one another – yet senior members of the British Royal Family were nowhere to be seen.
It’s not the first time that the likes of King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been absent from a celebration held by a European royal household.
In September, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf marked his golden jubilee with a lavish banquet at the Royal Palace, where guests included Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Norway’s Queen Sonja and Denmark’s Princess Mary – but senior British royals failed to make an appearance.
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter told FEMAIL that it’s likely a busy schedule and the slimmed-down monarchy to blame for the lack of British royals at their European counterparts’ festivities.
Two days ago, glamorous guests such as Princesses Victoria of Sweden, Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Elisabeth of Belgium sported dazzling tiaras and stunning gowns as they celebrated Denmark’s future King’s 18th birthday.
Prince Christian is a four-times great grandson of Queen Victoria and a distant cousin to Prince William. His grandmother Queen Margrehte was the late Queen Elizabeth’s third cousin and the pair enjoyed a warm relationship.
But rather than travel to Denmark for the lavish occasion, the Prince of Wales, 41, journeyed to France with his son Prince George, 10, to watch Wales take on Argentina in the quarter final of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
It’s unclear if Kate and William – or any senior British royals – were invited to Prince Christian’s 18th birthday party.
But Dickie has said it’s unlikely an invitation would’ve been accepted due to the British royals’ busy schedules.
He said: ‘Royal diaries are generally completed a good six to seven months in advance.
‘There are minor gaps to allow for last minute engagements as we saw this weekend with The Prince of Wales at the Wales Rugby World Cup quarter final and The Princess at the England match.
‘British royals are not fussy – busy, yes. There are only eleven working royals, all with particularly full diaries and even royals are allowed down time.
‘Of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Golden Jubilee – this was September when Prince William was preparing for Earthshot in New York, and The King, preparing for his State Visit to France.
‘In the past, the late Queen who was of a similar generation to the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish monarchs, would more than likely have received an invitation and, while not attending herself, would have asked one of her family to represent her depending on the nature of the engagement.’
He added: ‘I believe the UK population at large would prefer to see the royals, whether in the UK or abroad, at work rather than attend birthday celebrations.’
Sometimes the British royals can turn up for other royal households’ festivities; Prince Edward and Sophie attended the wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Princess Sofia in 2015.
More recently, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended Crown Prince Hussein’s lavish wedding to Rajwa Al-Saif in Jordan in June.
Guests at last night’s gala included Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Victoria of Sweden and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, who all looked straight out of a fairytale as they attended the glamorous party at Christiansborg Palace.
The birthday boy’s mother, Mary, 51, who is married to Prince Frederik, the heir apparent to the Danish throne, put on a dazzling display in the diamond tiara she wore on her wedding day in 2004.
Looking effortlessly elegant, the Australian-born mother-of-four opted for a gem-encrusted blue gown from Danish designer Jesper Høvring and a pair of shimmering diamond drop earrings.
Sweden’s Victoria, 46, who is heir to her country’s throne, appeared just as radiant in a cream Elie Saab gown with a square neckline that showed off her statement diamond necklace.
Adding a pair of diamond earrings and an eye-catching tiara to finish off her look, the princess attended the occasion alongside her husband Prince Daniel, 50, and her 11-year-old daughter, Princess Estelle.
Victoria and Estelle weren’t the only glamorous mother and daughter duo at the gala, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, 50, and her daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 19, wearing matching blue gowns and sparkling tiaras.
They were joined by Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 19, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 21.
Catharina-Amalia looked stylish in a caped dress from Essentiel Antwerp, with her long hair down and pinned back with a diamond tiara.
Elisabeth, meanwhile, looked every inch the princess in a cream sleeveless gown from Belgian couture brand Natan, which she teamed with matching gloves.
Not be outdone by the younger royals, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, whose half-century reign makes her Europe’s longest-serving monarch, commanded attention in a bright red gown and the Pearl Poire Tiara.
Other picture-perfect guests included Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.
The party saw hundreds of well-heeled guests from across Europe present, such as Queen Anne-Sophie of Greece, Crown Prince Pavlof of Greece and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece.
Meanwhile, perhaps showing that Denmark’s royal title row is truly behind them, Prince Joachim attended his nephew’s party – after last year criticising his mother Queen Margrethe’s decision to strip his children of their prince and princess titles.
He was joined at the gala by his wife Princess Marie, and their children Count Henrik of Monzepat and Countess Athena of Monpezat. Count Felix of Monpezat, Joachim’s second eldest son from his first marriage, was also at the event.
