A Queen’s Jewellery Box

If there is one thing you should see at the moment when visiting Copenhagen, Denmark, these days, it certainly is the exhibition “A Queen’s Jewellery Box. 50 years on the throne told through jewellery” at the Amalienborg Museum in Christian VIII’s Palace. The exhibition opened in January 2022 and can be visited until 23 October 2022.

Although probably during the festivities for the 50th anniversary to the throne around 10 and 11 September lots of big jewellery will probably be taken out of the exhibition, I still intend to visit again. When I was there in July it were rather the private pieces that were missing, as Queen Margrethe II obviously needed them for her holidays at Graasten and Caÿx. On the other hand, the bigger pieces were there, because the royals usually don’t wear them during the summer. And I hope it is a little less crowded this time, although that is probably wishfull thinking.

The Queen is very fond of her jewellery, and many pieces have a personal or historical story. She uses her jewellery actively and deliberately, and with great care and consideration. For her each piece is a symbol, imbued with memories, friendships, continuity, life as a monarch and Danish history. The exhibition shows more than 200 well-known and lesser-known pieces from the collection of the Queen.

Queen Margrethe II personally has narrated the Danish version of the audio guide for the exhibition. Unfortunately for us foreigners, she didn’t do the ones in foreign languages. At the ticket sales a texted version is available in Danish, German, French and English.

Visiting

The palace museum is open everyday from 10am to 5pm. Although I don’t think it is a must, one can buy a ticket beforehand at the website of the Kongernes Samling. Do remember there is much more than the exhibition to see in the museum.

Several talks are planned for the duration of the exhibition and for the jubilee celebrations.
Talks
Golden Days Queens

Book

The exhibition book “En Dronningens Smykkeskrin. 50 år som regent fortalt i smykker” by Heidi Laura was published by Politikens Forlag, unfortunately only in Danish. In six richly illustrated chapters the story of Queen Margrethe II’s jewellery is told: heritage from her father, from her mother, daily jewels, jewellery for happy and sad times, the jewellery that comes with the job as a Queen, and the heirlooms of the next generation. It surely doesn’t cover all the pieces in the exhibition, but it nevertheless is a must have, which I took back home, even when it made my luggage even heavier.

In the castle shops at Amalienborg, Rosenborg and Koldinghus the book is sold for 450 DKK. The shops at Amalienborg and Koldinghus are huge, and one can easily spend a lot of money here on small and big things.

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