European royals have gathered for the 75th birthday party of Queen Margrethe, whose birthday celebrations have stretched over the past week and culminate with a ball on Wednesday evening. Queen Letizia of Spain and husband King Felipe of Spain were two of the first to arrive, with Letizia wearing a black and white floral gown, with a gorgeous tiara perched upon her head.
Queen Letizia and Queen Maxima were two of the first to arrive
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium also arrived in style, with Mathilde wearing a fuchsia pink silk gown.
They were also joined by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, King Harald of Norway, Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, and King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
Queen Margrethe couldn't keep the smile off her face
The guest-of-honour though, Margrethe, soon arrived, wearing a stunning bright red gown complete with floral applique across the torso and a simple pearl necklace - but as she made her way into Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, her best accessory was her beaming smile.
Her family, Prince Frederick and Princess Mary, and Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, joined her, although missing from the evening's festivities were her grandchildren.
The party closes off a week of celebrations for the Queen's landmark 75th birthday - marked on the 16 April - which began last Wednesday when Margrethe arrived with Prince Consort Henrik at the town hall following a parade through the streets of Aarhus, in a carriage pulled by horses from the army’s Gardehusarregimentets Hesteskorte.
Princess Mary and Princess Marie
The Queen fought off the chill with a coat and a white hat, grey gloves and a blanket covering her legs, to greet the 5000 locals who turned out to watch the parade, including schoolchildren, who were given the day off.
During the party, Danish actor Nikolaj Lie Kaas hosted the show, while singer Josh Groban as well as Rasmus Seeback and Anne Linnet performed.