Queen Margrethe celebrated her 77th birthday with her family at Marselisborg Castle on 16 April 2017, instead of Amalienborg

The Queen’s birthday coincided with Easter Sunday this year.

Det er H.M. Dronningens fødselsdag. Fra klokken 11.20 åbnes portene til Marselisborg Slot og publikum kan få adgang til Slotshaven, hvor Dronningen og den kongelige familie klokken 12.00 går ud på verandaen. 📸 Kongehuset ©

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Celebrations kicked off when the Royal Standard was raised at 8.00 am.

The changing of the guard took place at 12 noon as the Band of the Royal Life Guards Band marched during their performance in front of the castle.

Afterwards, Queen Margrethe and members of the royal family present came out on the veranda to greet the waiting well-wishers as the Royal Life Guards Band continued playing.

See more photos of Queen Margrethe’s 77th birthday on the Danish Royal Family’s website.

A Short Biography

King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Sweden’s eldest daughter, Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace during World War II.

Princess Margrethe christened on 14 May 1940 in Holmens Kirke (the Naval Church) and confirmed on 1 April 1955 at Fredensborg Palace.

🎁 12. december Kronprinsesse Ingrid fik taget dette billede sammen med Prinsesse Margrethe i julen 1940. Billedet var en julehilsen til Kronprins Frederik.

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She has two younger sisters, Benedickte and Anne-Marie who later married King Constantine II of Greece.

However, the Act of Succession of 27 March 1953 was changed to give women the right to succeed to the Danish throne, if there were no male heirs.

As the Heir Apparent, Princess Margrethe was given a seat on the State Council on 16 April 1958 (her 18th birthday). The Princess chaired State Council meetings during her father’s absence.

Princess Margrethe married Henri Marie Jean André, Count of Laborde deMonpezat, on 10 June 1967. He became HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark following the wedding ceremony at the Holmens Kirke.

🎁 21. december På ski i Frankrig. Regentparret i et sneklædt Megève, vinteren 1982.

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They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian, born 26 May 1968, and Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, born 7 June 1969.

Queen Margrethe was the first Danish monarch under the new Act of Succession when she ascended the throne on 14 January 1972.

She is also the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Defence Forces.

Like Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Queen Margrethe does not become involved in politics and does not express any political opinions.