Queen Margrethe's 75th birthday brings Europe's crowned heads to Copenhagen this Wednesday for a spectacular gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace. Only Queen Elizabeth, who will celebrate her 89th birthday next week, will skip the party as per custom, but all the other important reigning monarchs are present.
Margrethe's godson King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima already announced last month that they were coming back to Denmark to honour Margrethe, Europe's second longest reigning monarch (after Queen Elizabeth). The king said so during his speech at the State banquet the Danish queen gave for him at Christiansborg during the Dutch State Visit to Denmark.
King Willem-Alexander is joined by the 'new generation' of kings: Felipe of Spain and Philip of Belgium, who are both accompanied by their queens, Letizia and Mathilde respectively. Also present at the dinner are King Harald of Norway, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden and Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
The King and Queen of the Hellenes will be present, along with other royal guests. At a second dinner, held at Frederiksborg Palace on Thursday Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel will join in the festivities. Norwegian Queen Sonja will be absent however, as she is expected in New York to open an exhibition. © RB
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