Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark host their annual New Year’s dinner alongside their dashing son Christian – but one royal was notably absent

The Danish royal family celebrated the start of 2026 with a New Year’s Day Parade, hosted by King Frederik X and Queen Mary, followed by a lavish banquet attended by government officials.

The festivities saw the couple, alongside other senior members of the royal household, arrive at Christian VII’s Palace in Copenhagen for the annual event, which celebrates the Danish government, the Royal Court, and other close associates of the royal family.

While Crown Prince Christian, 20, attended, his sister, Princess Isabella, 18, was notably absent.

Danish journalist Natasja Crone told Danish news outlet TV2 the decision was made because they have not yet decided whether she will be a working royal.

Isabella hit headlines in August last year after she was spotted at a Danish music festival Smukfest in Skanderborg wearing a suggestive top with the words ‘f***ed him yesterday’ in Danish. The message was accompanied by an arrow pointing off to the side.

Christian and Isabella’s younger siblings, 14-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, weren’t present, as the invitation was for over-18s only.

Meanwhile, Queen Margrethe II, who abdicated the throne in January last year in favour of her son Frederik following her 52-year reign, beamed as she arrived while dressed in all her finery.

Margrethe announced her shock abdication in her New Year’s Eve address to the nation in 2024, marking the end of her era as Europe’s longest-serving monarch.

She hosted that year’s gala before her son succeeded her as the country’s monarch on January 14, 2024.

Mary looked the part yesterday in a gold Jasper Hovring dress, adorned with the Collar and Star of the Order of the Elephant, as well as Rose-Cut Bandeau Tiara and earrings from Danish Crown Diamond Prairie, 9 Honey reported.

Others in attendance included Margrethe’s younger sister, Princess Benedikte, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen.

The New Year celebrations will continue into next week, when Mary and Frederik will hold a celebration for judges of the Supreme Court, the Royal Life Guards, and the Guard Hussar Regiment’s Officer Corps on 5 January.

Tuesday will also see a New Year’s party for Armed Forces officers, members of the Emergency Management Agency, and groups with noble and honorary titles or those connected with Frederik and Mary’s royal patronages.

It comes after an opinion poll conducted by Danish broadcaster DR underscored Margrethe’s enduring popularity following her abdication – while Frederik and Mary each received an 85 per cent approval rating, Margrethe surpassed them with an approval score of 88 per cent.

It’s a testament to the deep affection the Danish people still hold for their former queen, who, even in retirement, remains a towering figure in the country’s history.

Celebrated for her hands-on approach, attending government meetings and writing her own speeches, Queen Margarethe is among the few sovereigns of her generation who hold multiple university diplomas.

Mary looked dashing in a Jasper Hovring dress, Rose-Cut Bandeau Tiara and earrings from Danish Crown Diamond Prairie

Crown Prince Christian beamed as he arrived at the banquet at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen

Queen Margrethe, who abdicated the throne in 2024, attended the celebrations on Thursday evening

After graduating, she challenged social norms by studying at five European universities between 1960 and 1965.

Considering disciplines to assist in her future role as head of state, Margrethe enrolled in a political science programme, which she carried out in three institutions: Aarhus University in Denmark, the Sorbonne University in Paris, and the London School of Economics.

It was at the latter that Margrethe met her husband, French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat.

She also studied philosophy at Copenhagen University and earned a diploma in prehistoric archaeology from Cambridge University.

Margrethe re-vitalised the monarchy – not least with a new era of fashion.

Thanks to her knack for colour and prints, she carries off eccentric looks both during official engagements and at leisure.

The royal’s fascination with ornate clothing was ignited during her childhood as she observed her father, King Frederik IX, and his passion for the theatre.

At the age of eight, attending August Bournonville’s ballet Napoli with her parents, she was entranced by the set and costumes.

Pictured: Princess Benedikte at the annual New Year’s dinner at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg in Copenhagen

Pictured: Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attending the annual New Year’s dinner yesterday

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark beamed as they arrived in matching navy ensembles

Similar to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth, Margrethe valued a vibrant colour palette and remained loyal to her nation’s design talents.

She showcased sleek velvet dresses, silk taffeta gowns, luxurious brocades, patterns and an abundance of furs, embodying her authoritative and adventurous nature.

Margrethe shared a close relationship with Elizabeth – they are both great granddaughters of Queen Victoria.

The pair shared such a strong bond that they would begin all correspondence with ‘Dear sister and cousin’.

In public, Elizabeth and Margrethe addressed each other as ‘Your Majesty’, but in private, the Danish Queen was affectionately known to her cousin as ‘Daisy’.

This nickname originated from Margrethe being named after her British-born grandmother Princess Margaret ‘Daisy’ of Connaught.

Meanwhile, Margrethe called Elizabeth ‘Lilibet’. She once explained: ‘That’s the way we have known each other always. That is what we call each other when we see and speak to one another. We are definitely affectionate, but I don’t want to splash it all over the place!’

Stepping away from the throne has given Queen Margrethe the freedom to devote more time to her passion for the arts.

Despite having no formal training in visual arts, she has created an impressive body of work across various mediums, including watercolour, oil chalk pastels and acrylic painting.

Ever the keen observer, Margrethe carries small sketchpads during her travels, capturing intriguing motifs and fresh ideas in the moment.

Her artistic talents continue to flourish, as seen in her recent design for a limited-edition anniversary mug for Royal Copenhagen, featuring two hand-painted fish to mark the brand’s 250th anniversary.

In his first New Year’s speech, Frederik reassured the Danish people that ‘my mother enjoys her new life,’ embracing her new-found independence while maintaining a connection to the royal family.

Though she retains the title of queen, Margrethe now ranks after King Frederik, Queen Mary, and their four children.

Her royal household has been reduced in scale, with fewer ladies-in-waiting and a smaller state-provided income. Despite these changes, Margrethe remains at Fredensborg Palace, where she has lived for years.