The coronation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary in Denmark on January 14, 2024 was a history-making event. Until Queen Margrethe’s surprise New Year’s Day abdication, a Danish royal had not relinquished the throne in 900 years. In anticipation of the momentous occasion, thousands lined the streets of Copenhagen to watch Frederik and his Australian-born wife, Mary, be crowned King and Queen.
Whilst all eyes were on Frederik during the official proclamation, royal watchers were equally keen to witness Queen Mary’ coronation outfit. After all, it’s not every day you become the Queen of Denmark.
Queen Margrethe’s abdication was announced on January 1, 2024; King Frederik and Queen Mary allegedly were only told days earlier. Despite having just two weeks to prepare for the event, Queen Mary’s outfit was not only utterly sophisticated, but included the perfect amount of subtle patriotic nods to the Scandinavian nation.
Stepping onto the balcony at Christiansborg Palace, the new Queen opted for a colour-blocking moment. Her ivory dress with a faux shawl was designed by Soeren Le Schmidt. The Snow White-esque dress featured a sweeping neckline and was sewn by Birgit Hallstein. The dressmaker was also responsible for the exquisite duchesse silk wedding dress worn by Queen Mary on her wedding day in 2004.
Mary’s most noticeable jewellery choice is actually a sweet nod to Queen Margrethe. Pinned to the Queen Consort’s chest was the Ordensportrættet – a brooch which features a miniature portrait of the monarch. The tradition dates back to the 18th century when it was dictated women in the royal family wore a portrait of the Sovereign in a diamond frame on their left shoulder.
Queen Mary wore her Ordensportrættet to the royal proclamation last night with a portrait of Queen Margrethe inside. Previously, Mary’s Ordensportrættet was worn by Margrethe, who kept a picture of her father, Frederik IX, inside.
In addition, Mary opted to wear pieces from the Danish royal family’s exquisite “Ruby Set”. She selected the earrings, brooch (which was worn as a stomacher) and hair barrettes from the parure for the occasion.
The Ruby Set is Queen Mary’s favourite. And it is a subtle, yet patriotic stylistic choice to represent the colours of the Danish flag.
“The red of the rubies with the white of the dress proved the perfect combination, subtly symbolising Denmark’s national colours,” The Weekly’s Royal Correspondent Juliet Rieden says.
The Ruby Set dates back to Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the set for Désirée Clary for his own coronation in 1804. When Désirée passed away, the ruby parure was inherited by her daughter-in-law, Queen Josefina of Sweden.
Her granddaughter, Princess Louise married King Frederik VIII of Denmark in 1869. Upon her wedding day, her grandmother gifted her the ruby parure. Queen Josefina red and silver colours of the rubies and diamonds matched the Danish flag. The parure ended up in the possession of Queen Ingrid, Queen Margrethe’s mother. Upon her death in 2000, Queen Ingrid left the set to her grandson, Frederik, for his future wife to wear.
It’s apt that Queen Mary selected this set for her coronation outfit given its rich royal history and symbolic meaning.
