Queen Margrethe II's first birthday celebration after abdication cancelled following 'devastating' fire
By Bronte Gossling|
Q?ueen Margrethe II's birthday celebration has been cancelled following a "devastating" fire in Copenhagen, which raged through and destroyed one of the city's oldest buildings.
The Danish Royal House announced on social media overnight that the former monarch's planned 84th birthday celebrations on April 16 จC a private event at Fredensborg Palace followed by a small concert performed by The Band of the Royal Life Guards in the Inner Palace Yard จC would be postponed to a later time.
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"As a result of the situation with the devastating fire on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe's birthday celebration today was postponed," a statement shared to the Danish Royal House's official Instagram page, translated from Danish, began.
On Tuesday (overnight in Australia), a fire broke out at and destroyed Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange, which dates back to the 1600s.
Its iconic dragon-tail spire collapsed as a result of the fire, with ?passersby rushing to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables.
King Frederik V released a statement about the fire on social media, writing, "?This morning, we woke up to a sad sight, as smoke over the roofs of Copenhagen gave evidence of the destructive fire at B?rsen."
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"An important part of our architectural cultural heritage was and continues to be in flames," Frederik's statement continued.
"For 400 years, Christian IV's edifice ?B?rsen has been a distinctive landmark of Copenhagen as the 'city of towers'. Until today, we have considered the historic building as a beautiful symbol of our capital and a structure that we, as a nation, have been proud of.
"The Queen and I ?would like to thank all of those who, since early this morning, have ensured that no one has been injured, and who have fought to save as much as possible of both the building as well as the many cultural treasures and works of art that B?rsen holds," he concluded.
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The Danish Royal House's statement about Margrethe's birthday celebrations also explained how Margrethe, Frederik, ?Queen Mary and Margrethe's sister, Princess Benedikte, waved to onlookers from Fredensborg Castle's main stairs during the changing of the guards, who wore their red gala uniform.
"It is only at special occasions and on the King's and Queen Margrethe's birthdays that Livguard pulls in a red guard gala," the statement, shared alongside photos from the day, further explained.
The Danish Royal House then confirmed that on May 26, when Frederik turns 56, he and his family will appear on Frederick VIII's Palace balcony, in ?Amalienborg, at 12pm, as is tradition.
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Margrethe's 84th birthday marked her first time in 52 years that she would be celebrating the day without being Queen of Denmark.
The former monarch ?announced her intention to abdicate in a New Year's Eve address, with her eldest son, Frederik, and his Australian-born wife formally ascending the throne on January 14.
She was the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down from the throne in almost 900 years.
?To mark her birthday, the Danish Royal House earlier in the day released two new portraits of Margrethe จC her first official birthday portraits taken as the former Queen.
"Today is Her Majesty Queen Margrethe's 84th birthday ??," the Danish Royal House wrote on Instagram alongside photos of a smiling Margrethe, and one snap of Margrethe with her dachshund, Tillia.
"On today's occasion, new photos of Her Majesty are published, which were taken at Fredensborg Castle. In the same place, today Queen Margrethe will celebrate her birthday privately in the company of family and friends," the caption continued.
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The Danish Royal House also explained that through its official social media accounts, well-wishers could send a birthday greeting to Margrethe.
Margrethe's 84th birthday is not the first time ?her celebrations have been cancelled จC in 2020, her public 80th birthday celebrations were postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
In January 2022, Margrethe's daughter-in-law Mary's public 50th birthday celebrations were also cancelled, again due to ?COVID-19.
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