Danish New Year’s Court 2012

The first of the 2012 Danish New Year’s Court took place yesterday evening in Copenhagen. The New Year’s Court for the members of the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest order, was held at Christian VII’s Palace, Amalienborg.

HM Queen Margrethe II and TRH Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Prince Joachim attended the gala banquet. HRH Princess Marie did not attend due to her advanced stage of pregnancy (she is due in a matter of weeks). The Crown Prince and Princess strangely arrived after the Queen and Prince Henrik, typically they arrive beforehand.

The Queen and Crown Princess both wore recycled gowns. Queen Margrethe donned the pink ball gown from the Crown Princely wedding in 2004 (also worn several times since – including the 2010 New Year’s Court), with the pearl and diamond parure. The Crown Princess wore a remodeled version of her red velvet maternity evening gown (worn at the 2007 New Year’s Court and the Norwegian King’s birthday celebrations the following month), which now features a higher neckline and a belted waist. This was paired with Queen Desiree’s Ruby and Diamond Parure. The Princes all wore their military dress uniforms.

Also in attendence was the Queen’s first cousin, HH Princess Elisabeth. She wore a blue beaded evening gown, with the diamond and sapphire tiara she inherited from her mother, the late Princess Caroline-Mathilde.

This Court is the first in a series of Courts which will be held over the coming days to mark the new year. Those who hold the Order of the Elephant are invited to the gala, as well as the members of the Danish government and the Royal Court. Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt attended her first New Year’s Court as PM this evening (she became Prime Minister in October 2011).

Courts will also be held on January 3rd and January 4th, attended by the Regent Couple and Crown Princely Couple.

Filed under Denmark
Tagged Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Fashion, Margrethe II of Denmark, New Year's Court, Order of the Elephant, Orders, Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, Tiaras.