Queen Margrethe Beams in New Portraits for Her First Birthday Since Historic Abdication

The former Queen of Denmark posed for photos at Fredensborg Castle with her dog Tillia

Happy birthday to Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who is ringing in the milestone for the first time since the history-making change of reign.

The former Queen turned 84 on April 16, and the Danish Royal House released two new portraits in her honor. The first photo showed Queen Margrethe smiling in a mauve dress near a sunny window, followed by a second shot of her walking down a palace hallway with her dachshund Tillia.

"Today is Her Majesty Queen Margrethe's 84th birthday 🇩🇰," the court captioned the portraits on Instagram. "On today's occasion, new photos of Her Majesty are published, which were taken at Fredensborg Castle. In the same place, today Queen Margrethe will celebrate her birthday privately in the company of family and friends."

"Via the Royal Family's social media, it is possible to send Queen Margrethe a birthday greeting," the court added.

Related: Plans Revealed for King Frederik and Queen Margrethe of Denmark's First Birthdays Since the Change of Reign

Queen Margrethe’s birthday is especially significant this year as the first following her historic abdication on Jan. 14. On New Year’s Eve, the monarch caused shock across Denmark when she used her annual year-end speech to announce that she was abdicating the throne on the 52nd anniversary of her accession.

The announcement was unexpected, as Queen Margrethe previously hinted that she intended to reign for life like previous Danish monarchs. While she cited the "extensive back surgery" she had in 2023 as leading her to think about the future, some wondered if the decision was driven to save the marriage of her eldest son, the future King Frederik, to his wife, who is now known as Queen Mary, following rumors of infidelity. The Danish Royal House never commented on the report.

The shift was made official when Queen Margrethe (who retains her royal title) signed a declaration of her abdication at Christiansborg Palace on Jan. 14 and became the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down from the throne in nearly 900 years.

Her eldest son and successor became King Frederik X, his wife became Queen Mary and their 18-year-old son became Crown Prince Christian. The couple’s three younger children — Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 13 — each moved up a spot in the line of succession as well.

Related: Meet Denmark's Royals: Your Guide to the Danish Monarchy's Family Tree

Last year, Queen Margrethe celebrated her birthday with a balcony appearance at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen, and her eldest son is continuing the tradition.

On April 9, the Danish Royal House announced the plans for the first birthday of King Frederik’s reign, along with a mention of the lower-key festivities on the calendar for Queen Margrethe’s birthday.

"HM The King turns 56 years old on 26 May 2024. On this occasion, His Majesty and The Royal Family will appear on the balcony of Frederik VIII’s Palace at 12:00," the Danish Royal house said in a statement about the celebration in Copenhagen.

"The Royal Life Guard will be in red full-dress uniforms on The King’s birthday, and The Life Guard will carry out a grand changing of the guard ceremony on Amalienborg Palace Square at 11:50," the court continued.

The military display on castle grounds is somewhat similar to Trooping the Colour in the U.K., which recognizes the British monarch’s official birthday each June. The detail that King Frederik will be joined on the palace balcony by the "royal family" likely means his wife, Queen Mary, and their four kids, just like on his accession day in January.

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Meanwhile, Queen Margrethe’s birthday plans were a bit more mellow.

"HM Queen Margrethe’s 84th birthday on 16 April 2024 will be celebrated privately at Fredensborg Palace and in connection with the changing of the guard at Fredensborg Palace, The Band of the Royal Life Guards will perform a small concert in the Inner Palace Yard," the Danish Royal House said.

Fredensborg Palace is a seasonal retreat for the Danish royals often used in the summer months, built on the island of Zealand as a country seat for Frederik IV in 1719.

However, Queen Margrethe's birthday came with a bit of sad news in Denmark. There was a fire at Copenhagen’s historic Stock Exchange during renovation work on the building, and the famous Dragon Spire collapsed.

King Frederik released a statement on social media thanking those working to make sure no one was injured in the blaze and fighting to save as much of the building as possible.

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