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Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have made a balcony appearance to mark his 58th birthday on May 26.
Denmark’s reigning royal couple were joined by their twins, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, as they waved to the crowds from Amalienborg Palace.
A famous landmark in Copenhagen, the luxury Amalienborg complex is central to the Danish monarchy, not just for business but as their home.
As Mary steps out with just the hint of a chandelier showing from the interiors, have you ever wondered what the palace is like inside? Take a rare look here…
A palace fit for a King and Queen
Their home sits in the heart of Copenhagen as part of a grand complex of four near‑identical rococo palaces arranged around an elegant octagonal courtyard.
Visitors gather here daily at noon to watch the Changing of the Guard, which Queen Mary has been known to take a peek at from an upstairs window.
Unlike the heavily gated royal residences of Britain, Amalienborg remains astonishingly open.
There are no towering fences — just the ever‑present King’s Guard who ensure that while you could theoretically walk up and knock on the front door, you don’t.
It’s not unusual to spot members of the family coming and going from the complex.
During my holiday to Copenhagen in May 2025, I saw twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine being driven to school early one morning.
During the same trip, I saw King Frederik himself driving in and out of the palace grounds on three occasions.
It’s this openness that makes Amalienborg feel less like a fortress and more like a neighbourhood, albeit one where the neighbours just happen to be royals.
A family home
Despite the grandeur of the exterior, Mary has always said it is more of a family home.
“In the morning we make porridge and all sit around the dining table,” she told Hello! “Then we talk and eat, while our dog Ziggy runs in and out. It’s really cosy.”
Frederik has echoed the sentiment, explaining that they don’t have staff helping at the start or end of the day.
“You could say we switch them on and shut them down,” he joked.
Amalienborg serves as their winter palace, so snowfall is not uncommon in Copenhagen while they are in residence.
Unsurprisingly, the family practise the famous Danish tradition of hygge.
“It’s palatial in some respects but it’s also hyggelig — a Danish word which means a lot more but is best translated as cosy,” Mary told Australian Vogue.
Just like any young family, they juggle busy routines, although things may have quieted down a little now that Crown Prince Christian is off doing military service.
“There are no days similar to each other,” she told Hello! “Everyone has their sports, interests and friends, and a lot of logistics need to be in place. We always gather around the dinner table and for breakfast as much as we can — and you can’t bring your mobile.”
Where history meets modernity
Amalienborg wasn’t always the royal family’s primary home. Originally built for Danish nobles, the palaces were purchased by the monarchy in 1794 after a devastating fire damaged their former residence at Christiansborg Palace.
Today, the surrounding palaces house the Amalienborg Museum, Queen Margrethe’s residence, and the administrative offices that support the Danish monarchy.
For Mary and Frederik, Amalienborg is officially their winter residence.
Come spring, they move to Fredensborg Palace, and in summer, they take off for holidays and tours on board the royal yacht.
The couple moved into their palace in 2010, following a six‑year renovation that began after their wedding.
While the exterior remains a pristine example of rococo architecture, the interior tells a very different story.
Behind the symmetrical façade — distinguishable from the others only by a clock above the entrance — Mary and Frederik have created a warm, contemporary family home.
They replaced the entire heating system and updated many of the practical facilities, but they also commissioned ten Danish artists to paint modern artworks directly onto the palace’s walls and ceilings.
The result is a blend of historic grandeur and modern Danish design.
Of course, the palace is also full of tapestries, porcelain, and antiques that show off the best of Danish craftsmanship.
But from the glimpses they’ve given inside, there are also plenty of family photographs on the walls and books on the coffee tables.
They also don’t worry about the dogs running across the hardwood floors, with Border Collies Grace and Coco having the run of the house.
