King Frederik and Queen Mary have unveiled their beautifully decorated Christmas tree at Amalienborg Palace, and among the elegant ornaments lies a surprising personal touch.
Photos shared on the Danish royal family’s Instagram reveal a stunning tree adorned with red, gold, copper, and ice-blue baubles, standing proudly in a lavish gold-accented room. Upon closer inspection, the tree features unique ornaments reflecting the royal couple’s personal interests and hobbies.
Among the decorations is a kangaroo, a nod to Queen Mary’s Australian heritage, and a horse, symbolizing one of her favorite pastimes. However, the most unexpected addition is an ornament of Ziggy Stardust, the iconic stage persona of the late British rock star David Bowie.
King Frederik, a lifelong Bowie fan, once met the music legend backstage at a concert in Hamburg during the 1980s, alongside his younger brother, Prince Joachim. Bowie’s influence on the monarch is well-documented, with several of his songs—such as Heroes, Under Pressure (with Queen), and Tonight (with Tina Turner)—featuring on a list of 160 tracks that Frederik cited as shaping his life, according to Jens Andersen’s 2019 biography of the king.
Royal fans were quick to praise the unique ornaments on social media. One commented, “Ziggy Stardust – such a beautiful decoration,” while another added, “Nice to see that Bowie has a place in the Danish royal house.” A third remarked, “What a gorgeous tree with such thoughtful touches.”
This Christmas marks the first festive season King Frederik and Queen Mary will host as monarchs, with celebrations taking place at Marselisborg Castle. They will be joined by their children—Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 17, and 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine—as well as Queen Margrethe.
