King Frederik and Queen Mary marked a significant occasion by hosting their inaugural gala dinner at their royal residence on Monday evening.
Accompanying them was Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe, 83, who relinquished the throne in favor of her son in January.
Representatives from the Armed Forces, the Air Force, and the Emergency Management board joined the Danish royals at Frederik and Mary’s residence, Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen.
Queen Mary, 52, exuded elegance in a black floor-length gown paired with a military-style jacket adorned with her royal honors and medals. She complemented her attire with diamond drop earrings and two delicate gold necklaces, styling her brunette locks in a chic low bun with soft tendrils framing her face.
King Frederik, 55, donned his military uniform proudly displaying his medals. Since 1986, the monarch has undergone training in all three services, notably completing frogman training with the Royal Danish Navy Frogman Corps in 1995.
During their winter break last month, the Danish royals devoted time to their four children. Frederik and Mary, who are approaching their 20th wedding anniversary in May, are the proud parents of Crown Prince Christian, aged 18, Princess Isabella, aged 16, and 13-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Isabella.
Frederik was proclaimed king during a ceremony in Copenhagen on 14 January. It came just two weeks after Queen Margrethe announced her abdication during a shock New Year’s address.
Exactly 52 years from the commencement of her reign in 1972, Queen Margrethe abdicated the Danish throne, hinting that health concerns were among the reasons for her decision.
“In February [2023] I underwent extensive back surgery. It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,” she said in her address.
A spokesperson from the palace later verified to Danish newspaper Berlingske that the queen had only disclosed her decision to her sons, Frederik and Prince Joachim, on December 28—merely three days prior to her televised announcement.
