The Danish royals came out in force to mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation movement in Copenhagen.
Queen Margrethe II led arrivals on Tuesday morning at Folketinget (Danish Parliament) at Christiansborg palace, closely followed by her sons Princes Frederik and Joachim.
Tellingly, there was no sign of Prince Consort Henrik, who the royal household recently announced is suffering from dementia.
The 77-year-old monarch looked sprightly in a vibrant purple coat dress and matching hat adorned with black feathers.
Making an equally stylish entrance at Folketinget were Frederik and Joaquim’s wives, Crown Princess Mary, 45, and Princess Marie, 41.
Crown Princess Mary, 45, leads the arrivals at Folketinget, Christiansborg Palace as the Danish royals gather in Copenhagen to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation movement
Princess Marie, 41, who is married to Prince Joaquim, brought a touch of glamour to proceedings with a sequin-adorned skirt and patent heels
Australian-born Mary looked chic in a belted cream jacket teamed with a black A-line skirt and pointed heels, which she finished off with leather gloves and oversized pearl earrings.
The mother-of-four was working as a marketing manager at an advertisement company when she met Frederik in a pub in Sydney during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Despite being spotted together several times in both Denmark and Australia, and Mary moving to Europe in 2001, it was not until April 2003 that Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged their relationship.
Her lookalike sister-in-law, Marie, also opted for dark colours on Tuesday, teaming her black skirt suit with a teal dress and elaborate headpiece.
Queen Margrethe gives a speech: The 77-year-old monarch looked sprightly in a vibrant purple coat dress and matching hat adorned with black feathers
By royal appointment: Queen Margrethe is given a royal salute (left) before Princesses Marie and Mary greet each other (right)
Glamorous Princess Marie chats to husband Prince Joaquim outside the palace today
Australian-born Mary looked chic in a belted cream jacket teamed with a black A-line skirt and pointed heels, which she finished off with leather gloves and oversized pearl earrings
Marie, who is mother to Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, swept her hair into a loose chignon and added a touch of glamour with patent heels and sequin embellishment on her skirt.
Denmark is this year hosting a series of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
In London, Westminster Abbey also hosted a service to mark the 500th Anniversary of the 95 Theses and the beginning of the Reformation led by the Dean of Westminster, the Reverend Dr John Hall.
Marie, who is mother to Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, swept her hair into a loose chignon and added a touch of glamour with patent heels and sequin embellishment on her skirt
Rags to riches: The mother-of-four was working as a marketing manager at an advertisement company when she met Frederik in a pub in Sydney during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
The Danish royals talk among themselves ahead of the service at Christiansborg palace
In September, the Danish monarchy released a statement regarding Prince Henrik’s dementia just weeks after he said he didn’t want to be buried with his ‘disrespectful’ wife Margrethe.
The cruel disease is said to have advanced quicker than expected and the 83-year-old’s royal engagements will be downgraded as a result of the diagnosis.
A palace statement read: ‘Following a longer course of investigation, and most recently, a series of examinations conducted during late summer, a team of specialists at Rigshospitalet has now concluded that His Royal Highness Prince Henrik suffers from dementia.
The extent of the cognitive failure is, according to Rigshospitalet, greater than expected considering the age of the prince.’