Queen Margrethe II Scaled Down Jubilee Celebration In Respect to the British Queen's Death

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark mourned the passing of her dear friend and third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. On Friday, September 9, she made a classic act.

The reigning Danish monarch decided to scale down the events related to her Golden Jubilee celebration this weekend with respect to the death of the British Queen, the Danish royal palace announced on Friday.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Danish royal palace spokesperson, Lene Balleby, said the changes to the celebration's program were made at the wish of Queen Margrethe II.

Two events scheduled for Saturday, September 10, the traditional appearance by Margrethe on the Amalienborg Palace balcony to greet throngs of well-wishers, as well as a ride through the capital in a horse-drawn carriage — have been cancelled.

She also ordered that the Danish flags in all royal palaces in Copenhagen be lowered to half-mast to pay tribute to the late British Queen.

Blood Relatives

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is a third cousin twice over of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain (and Prince Philip) through Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark. The Danish Queen and Prince Philip also both directly descended from the same royal house of Glucksburg.

Queen Margrethe II, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip

In her letter of sympathy sent to King Charles III, the Danish monarch spoke at length about her cherished friendship with the departed British Queen.

She also considered Queen Elizabeth II “a towering figure among European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all”, and stated that “we shall miss her terribly.”

The United Kingdom entered into a 10-day period of mourning following the death of the longest-reining Sovereign in British history.

Significant Milestones of the Two Queens

Both cousins marked a significant milestone in their reign this year. Platinum Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II, which she was able to celebrate before she died, and Golden Jubilee for Queen Margrethe II.

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Danish monarch remains the only reigning Queen in Europe and the current longest reigning Crown Head in Europe.

She ascended the Danish throne, Europe's oldest throne, in January 1972, following the death of her father, King Frederik IX, a second cousin of Prince Philip and King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II). 

Queen Margrethe II's Golden Jubilee celebrations have been postponed many times due to the pandemic. Originally, the celebration will kick off in January this year, but due to the government restrictions on public gatherings, all public events of the Queen's Golden Jubilee were scrapped and moved later this year.

The Royal House of Denmark posted an announcement on its website and social media accounts, regarding the changes, with the following statement:

"In light of the sad announcement of Queen Elizabeth II's death yesterday, 8 September 2022, it is Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II's wish that a number of adjustments be made to the weekend's planned celebration of the 50th Jubilee of The Queen's Accession to the Throne.

Among other things, this means that the ceremonial celebration with the Guard Hussar Regiment's Horse Squadron and carriage drives at the Royal Stables are cancelled".

Subsequently, the adjustments are as follows:

1. The planned guard parade at Amalienborg Palace Square on September 10, where the Queen and the royal family were supposed to appear on the balcony, is cancelled.
2. The visit to Copenhagen City Hall with accompanying entertainment is postponed to a later date.
3. The command performance on the Old Stage of The Royal Danish Theater will continue to be held in a modified form. In addition, the evening's planned musical performance at Krinsen on Kongens Nytorv is cancelled.
4. The church service in the Church of Our Lady of Copenhagen Cathedral will go forward in a modified form.
   
5. The following luncheon for Nordic heads of state and the royal family on the Royal Yacht, Dannebrog, will be carried out as planned.
6. The gala banquet at Christianborg Palace, Sunday evening will be carried out in a modified form.

A new date for the postponed celebration at Copenhagen City Hall will be announced at a later date.

Queen Margrethe II is one of the reigning European monarchs who spoke on a personal level through a message sent to King Charles following the death of his mother.

The other reigning Crown Heads in Europe who are cousins of the British Queen are King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Harald V of Norway, King Philippe of the Belgians, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and King Felipe VI of Spain.

Queen Elizabeth II greeted Queen Margrethe II

Blood relations between Queen Margrethe II and Queen Elizabeth II

King Edward VII (eldest son and heir of Queen Victoria)

• King George V (son of Edward VII)
• King George VI (son of George V)
• Queen Elizabeth II (daughter of George VI)

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (third son of Queen Victoria)

• Princess Margaret of Connaught (daughter of Prince Arthur)
• Princess Ingrid of Sweden (daughter of Princess Margaret)
• Queen Margrethe II (eldest daughter of Queen Ingrid)

Princess Alexandra (daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark), she married King Edward VII of the United Kingdom:

• King George V (son of Edward VII)
• King George VI (son of George V)
• Queen Elizabeth II (daughter of George VI)

King Frederik VIII (eldest son and heir of Christian IX of Denmark). He was also the older brother of Princess Alexandra and King George I of Greece (grandfather of Prince Philip).

• King Christian X (son of Frederick VIII)
• King Frederik IX (son of Christian X)
• Queen Margrethe II (daughter of Frederick IX