Queen Margrethe II of Denmark appears on the balcony at Christian IX’s Palace at 12.00 noon as part of her 78th birthday celebrations.

A huge crowd waited with anticipation to see the Queen and the rest of the Danish Royal Family, except Crown Prince Frederik, after Changing of the Guard had taken place.

A huge cheer arose when Queen Margrethe stepped out on the central balcony and waved to the crowd.

A Short Biography

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

The Tronføleleven Act of 27 March 1953 was introduced in Denmark to allow women to inherit the throne, so Princess Margrethe became the heir presumptive to her father.

Frederik IX died on 14 January 1972 so Margrethe became the first female ruler since Margrethe I who had ruled the Scandinavian kingdoms in 1375 to 1412 during the Kalmar Union.

Margrethe was given a seat in the State Council on her eighteenth birthday on 16 April 1958 and she led ministerial meetings during her father’s absence.

She married Henri Marie Jean André Laborde de Monpezat, known as Prince Henrik, on 10 June 1967 at the Holmen Church, with the reception held at Fredenborg Palace.

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik had two children, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and eight grandchildren.

They celebrated the Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2017.

Prince Henrik had passed away on 13 February 2018 in his sleep hours after he returned to Fredensborg Palace after he was discharged from Rigshospitalet.

Queen Margrethe has two younger sisters, Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.