Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II joined by her younger sister Princess Benedikte for a special anniversary

11 Jan, 2020 by Helena-Reet Ennet

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NordenBladet – Denmark’s Queen, Margrethe II*, was accompanied by her younger sister, Princess Benedikte**, as she oversaw the beginning of commemorations of a major anniversary for their country. The two royals attended a special concert marking the centenary of the reunification of South Jutland with Denmark.

The gala evening was hosted by the Danish government as events for the 100th anniversary get under way. The performance, which included music and dance, took place at the Royal Theatre in the heart of Copenhagen.

Queen Margrethe (79) and Princess Benedikte (75), both dressed in patriotic red, were presented with flowers as they arrived at the theatre. They then took their seats in the Royal Box for the show which featured performances from children’s choirs as well as a world premiere of a special German-Danish pas-de-deux.

South Jutland is the modern Danish name for part of what, for centuries, was known as the Duchy of Schleswig. In the 19th century, two wars were fought over Schleswig which culminated in Prussia defeating Denmark and taking control of the area. Following the First World War, Danish authorities asked for a referendum over the future of the area. The area now called South Jutland chose to be part of Denmark and the reunification took place in 1920.

Commemorations will take place throughout 2020 with special events planned for February and March to mark the centenary of the referendum itself. The most high profile celebrations will come in July to mark exactly 100 years since King Christian X rode, symbolically, across the border between Denmark and South Jutland to show they were now one again.

Queen Margrethe and her family are expected to play a major part in the ongoing commemorations.

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* Margrethe II (full name: Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid; born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark, as well as the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and commander-in-chief of the Danish Defence. Born into the House of Glücksburg, a royal house with origins in northern Germany, she was the eldest child of Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden. She became heir presumptive to her father in 1953, when a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne. Margrethe succeeded her father upon his death on 14 January 1972. On her accession, she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margrethe I, ruler of the Scandinavian kingdoms in 1375–1412 during the Kalmar Union. In 1967, she married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, with whom she has two sons: Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.

** Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg RE, SKmd, D.Ht. (Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid, born 29 April 1944) is the second daughter and child of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark. She is the younger sister of the reigning Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, and the older sister of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Princess Benedikte often represents her elder sister at official or semi-official events. She and her late husband, Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, have three children. Princess Benedikte is currently 11th in the line of succession to the Danish throne.

Featured image: Denmark’s Queen, Margrethe II (NordenBladet)