Danes are thrilled

“We have the most beautiful royal couple in the world”

Queen Mary and King Frederik are causing a stir with the first official portraits showing them with the most important orders and the well-guarded crown jewels.

(Bild: Steen Evald, Kongehuset ©)

The Danish royal family published the first official portrait photos of King Frederik and Queen Mary in "full royal regalia" on Thursday. The Danish people are absolutely delighted with the beautiful photos. 

On Instagram, a supporter of the royal family commented on one of the pictures, which shows the royal couple with medals and crown jewels in the historic castle in Copenhagen, with the words: "We have the most beautiful royal couple in the world."

First portraits three months after the coronation
The first official gala portraits were taken by photographer Steen Evald in the Green Hall in the royal reception rooms at Christiansborg Palace, the palace announced on its website. In addition to the couple's photo, a single portrait of the King and Queen were also published, in which both are wearing valuable pieces of jewelry that only the royal couple are entitled to.

King Frederik and Queen Mary succeeded the abdicated Queen Marghrete on the Danish throne on January 14.

Queen Mary of Denmark in the first official gala portrait after her coronation.

(Bild: Steen Evald, Kongehuset ©)

Historical objects
According to the palace, for the first time in the photos, the King is wearing a number of historical items that kings - and most recently Her Majesty Queen Margrethe - have worn during their reign.

First and foremost is the special elephant that His Majesty wears on a chain. The elephant was probably created in 1671 for the anointing of Christian V in Frederiksborg Palace Church.

The elephant is colloquially known as the "mother elephant", as the object represents the basic elephant for the entire Order of the Elephant. Queen Mary also wears a necklace with the elephant.

King Frederik of Denmark in the first official gala portrait after his coronation.

(Bild: Steen Evald, Kongehuset ©)

There is a tradition that this elephant is worn by the monarch on special occasions.

For example, Frederik IX and Margrethe II had the tradition of wearing the elephant every year on January 1st at the New Year's relay. At other events where the Order of the Elephant is worn, the regent uses his personal elephant.

Mary's special crown ornament
Queen Mary is wearing crown jewelry for the first time in the portrait. It is an emerald set with a tiara, necklace, earrings and a large brooch that can be divided into three parts.

The emerald set is one of the four sets of jewelry made available to the Danish Queen and can be seen daily in the Treasury at Rosenborg Palace.

The jewelry was designed by the jeweler C.M. Weisshaupt and was a gift from Christian VIII to Queen Caroline Amalie, probably for her silver wedding anniversary on May 22, 1840.

The emeralds and diamonds in the set come partly from the jewelry collection of Queen Sophie Magdalena of Christian VI and partly from older bracelets that were combined with newly acquired stones. 

Queen Mary and King Frederik

(Bild: Steen Evald, Kongehuset ©)

Safely stored
When not in use, the Crown Jewels are stored in the Treasury in the secure basement of Rosenborg Palace.

It is customary for the Crown Jewels to remain in Denmark, which means that they are not taken with you when you travel abroad. The Danish crown jewels are the only ones in the world that are both on display as museum pieces and worn by the Danish queen.

Incidentally, Mary wears a colorful miniature portrait of the King on her chest in a ribbon bow of the Order of the Dannebrog.