Queen Mary of Denmark Gives 'Game of Thrones' Vibes in New Portrait Showing Her Debut in Emerald Crown Jewels
Queen Mary and King Frederik wore some true treasures from the royal vault
New royal portraits of King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark have been revealed — and they just might remind you of a hit HBO show.
On April 25, the Danish Royal House released official gala portraits of the royal couple. Their joint photo was accompanied by one individual snap each of King Frederik, 55, and Queen Mary, 52, in their gala finery — the King in the Navy’s full dress uniform and the Queen in a deep green gown with lace sleeves and a high neck. The pictures were published in connection with the change of reign on Jan. 14, when Queen Margrethe abdicated on the 52nd anniversary of her accession and her eldest son became monarch.
"The portrait shows Their Majesties in gala with the Order of the Elephant on chains, and the portrait can henceforth be seen hung in, among other places, state institutions, including at Danish embassies and consulates around the world and on Danish vessels," the court said in a statement. They added that the portraits were taken by Steen Evald in the Green Room in the Royal Reception Rooms at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.
The portraits also mark Queen Mary wearing something historic from the royal vault for the first time: the Danish crown jewels!
Queen Mary accentuated her green gown in the emerald set, comprised of a tiara, necklace, earrings and a large brooch that can be divided into three parts.
Queen Mary's soft smile, elegant updo and extravagant jewels in the portrait look straight out of Game of Thrones, which aired on HBO (now known as Max) from 2011 to 2019.
The crown jewels, which do not leave the country, also include three other sets that are "at the disposal of the Queen of Denmark" and typically displayed at Rosenborg Castle.
"The Danish crown jewels are the only ones in the world that are both exhibited as museum objects and, at the same time, worn by the country’s queen," the Danish Royal House said. The court added that the set traces back to 1840 and was a gift from King Christian VIII to his wife, Queen Caroline Amalie, likely for their silver wedding anniversary.
Some of the stones were sourced from the collection of Queen Sophie Magdalene, and the garniture is highlighted by neoclassical themes — "flower vines, bows and curled frames or cartouches, inspired by the French crown jewels of the time."
Related: Queen Mary of Denmark Takes Official Portrait Celebrating Daughter Princess Isabella’s 17th Birthday
The crown jewel debut wasn’t the only new jewelry moment for Queen Mary. The royal also wore a brilliant diamond miniature portrait of her husband the King, with whom she shares four children: Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 17, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 13. It is set in a bow of the Order of Dannebrog ribbon.
"For generations, there has been a tradition that female members of the Royal Family wear a miniature portrait of the sovereign. Thus, in her time as Crown Princess, the Queen wore a portrait of Queen Margrethe," the court explained. "In connection with the succession of the throne, The Queen has received a miniature portrait of The King."
The image of Frederik in military uniform is by the British artist Tom Mulliner and set in an heirloom frame that was made for Empress Amelie of Brazil and later passed down through the Danish royal family.
Both Queen Mary and King Frederik wore the Order of the Elephant on chains, signaling their positions in Denmark’s highest honor of chivalry. As monarch, Frederik is the sovereign of both the Order of the Elephant and the similarly distinguished Order of Dannebrog and donned several historical pieces for the first time.
The oldest pieces of royal regalia that King Frederik wore were an Order of the Elephant charm dating back to 1671, the Order of the Elephant’s breast star from about 1770 and the breast star of the Order of Dannebrog, made after a change in rules to the order in 1808.
The elephant, chain and breast stars are typically displayed at Rosenberg Castle, like the crown jewels Queen Mary wore. The regalia that King Frederik sported are presented alongside the King’s badges of rank like the crown, scepter, orb, coronation sword and anointing ampulla — a royal parallel to some of the objects used in King Charles’ coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May 2023.
At his side, King Frederik carried a naval officer’s saber that belonged to his late grandfather, Queen Margrethe’s father King Frederik IX.
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On Jan. 14 — the 52nd anniversary of her accession — Queen Margrethe signed a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Palace, making her eldest son the new King Frederik X. His wife became Queen Mary and their eldest son became Crown Prince Christian, taking the King’s former styling, while the couple’s three younger children all moved up a spot in the line of succession.
The change of reign was sparked by Queen Margrethe’s shock announcement on New Year’s Eve that she intended to abdicate on her accession anniversary, and she became the first Danish sovereign to voluntarily step down from the throne in nearly 900 years.
Queen Margrethe opted to retain her title and recently posed for new portraits for her 84th birthday on April 16.
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