THE magnificent Amalienborg Palace houses Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and other members of her now-slimmed down royal family.
The Danish royal family has nine castles and palaces, but the greatest of all is Amalienborg – the Queen’s official winter residence that is four times the size of Wembley.
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The sprawling four-palace complex that makes up the Danish royal residence still likely looks as magnificent and stately as when King Christian VIII was the first to make it his home in 1794.
The four identical mansions are built around an octagonal courtyard and each house different members of the royal family.
But perhaps not enough space separates their majesties after the recent royal crisis that left four of Margarethe’s grandchildren stripped of titles.
Frederik VIII’s Palace is the home of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary and their young family – who have retained their titles.
Christian VII’s Palace, Christian IX’s Palace and Christian VIII’s Palace make up the rest of the mammoth structure of affluence and splendour.
Endless halls are adorned with priceless works of art and tapestries, which lead to gold-encrusted state rooms and infinite treasures set across 285,244 sq ft that faces the water.
The Rococo-style palace, built around 1750, hosts almost all stately events and every year Danes descend into the courtyard to wave flags on the Queen’s birthday.
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In September, Queen Margarethe, 82, suddenly and unexpectedly stripped the royal titles from four of her grandchildren belonging to her youngest son, Prince Joachim, 53.
The popular monarch – who has been on the throne for half a century – announced that half of her grandchildren would lose their their titles of prince and princess.
The move struck horror among the interested parties and an explosive royal row ensued as the younger Prince saw his children now reduced to counts and countesses.
A raging Joachim complained at the time that his children “don’t understand” the decision and have been “mistreated”.
“Why should their identity be removed? Why must they be punished in this way?”
The Queen’s hopes were that the four grandchildren would now “be able to shape their own lives, without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark involves”.
She called her controversial decision: “a necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.”
The Queen was forced to apologise soon after following a public outcry and upset amongst her own family, but she insisted it was the right decision and had “been a long time coming.”
“As a mother and grandmother, I have underestimated the extent to which much my younger son and his family feel affected,” she said.
“That makes a big impression, and for that I am sorry.”
Their titles were removed as of January 1, while the Queen’s other four grandchildren belonging to Crown Prince Frederik will remain as prince and princess.
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