Queen Margrethe of Denmark is picture-perfect in a purple dress as she poses for new portraits released on the occasion of her 84th birthday

The Royal Palace has today published two new portraits of Queen Margrethe on the occasion of her 84th birthday.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the royal, who abdicated in favor of her son King Frederik X on New Year’s Eve, opted for a bold purple dress, which she teamed with a pair of brown suede heels, along with a matching bag.

To add a touch of glitz to her ensemble, the mother-of-two wore a set of chunky gold earrings while leaving her hair up to show off the statement jewellery.

The pictures were taken at Fredensborg Castle, which is the same place where the Danish royal family today celebrates its birthday in private.

The royal residence is a setting that is only used for important events in the family such as weddings, silver wedding anniversaries and birthdays.

In a single moment, the Queen is pictured in one of the luxurious rooms of the castle, posing next to a window as she leans against the teal walls.

In another picture, Margrethe walks along the impressive monochrome tiled floor and follows her beloved sausage dog, Tilia, who previously belonged to her late husband Prince Henrik.

She is also wearing the Jubilee brooch, which was made by Georg Jensen to celebrate Margrethe’s 50 years on the Danish throne.

The stunning piece of jewelery has 50 grooves along the edge, representing each and every year since Queen Margrethe’s accession to the throne in 1972.

The 18 carat gold bar represents God, the round shape is said to be a reference to Denmark’s strong ties and the heart symbolizes love.

King Frederik, Queen Mary and her sister, Princess Benedikte, waved to well-wishers who stood outside the Palace this morning, hoping to wish the former head of state a happy birthday.

The former monarch has had a hectic few months as she shocked the nation with the announcement of her abdication during her New Year’s Eve live TV segment.

Just 14 days later, Margrethe, who had ruled for 52 years, abdicated the throne at a council meeting and her son, Frederik, was crowned king of Denmark.

She said one of the reasons she chose to abdicate was because of her health problems, adding that she had surgery for her back in February 2023.

She said: ‘It went well thanks to the skilled health staff who looked after me. Of course, the operation also gave reason to think about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation’.

It has been agreed that she will continue to be known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can act as regent if King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.

In the past few months, visits and announcements about Margrethe’s whereabouts have been less common. So what has the Queen been up to since her abdication?

Just a week after giving up the crown, the royal went to a special service in Aarhus Cathedral with his son, King Frederik and his wife Queen Mary.

Dressed in a vibrant purple dress and a matching gray fur coat and hat, she smiled for the cameras as she entered the church.

She then attended the inauguration of the new Prince Henrik’s School in Frederiksberg on February 7, choosing to wear a large brown fur coat with a blue checkered skirt and blazer.

Many royal fans awaited her arrival and chose to catch a glimpse of the former monarch on her journey to school, and she was more than happy to oblige by smiling and waving to the crowds.

The royal also won the Robert Award for Best Costume Design for his work on Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction.

She said in a post on Instagram via the official royal account: ‘I am deeply grateful, touched and proud of the recognition that the Robert Award represents.

‘Receiving an award that the industry itself gives out makes me particularly happy, and it has been a great joy and pleasure to be able to contribute to the expression of the film.

‘I would like to thank the entire team behind the film, but I especially thank all those who have made my ideas, sketches and drawings a reality – not least the talented people who have sewn and worked with the many costumes’.

Her Majesty also presented Queen Margrethe II’s Science Prize at the Royal Danish Society of Sciences in Copenhagen on 10 April.

She looked in high spirits as she unveiled a statue of her late husband, Prince Henrik, at the new Prince Henrik’s School.

A lover of fashion, wildly obscure prints and art, Margrethe donned a bold blue tartan blazer with a matching hat and turtleneck top.

Margrethe also accompanied King Frederik and Queen Mary to their first gala dinner in March, where she showed the next generation of royals how to host a successful event.

Last month, the former head of state also went on a trip with the Norwegian royals to watch the Holmenkollen FIS Nordic World Cup in Oslo, where she wrapped herself warmly in a red scarf and woolen hat.

The creative Queen has also undertaken the task of designing ballet costumes for Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens. The place will celebrate its 130th anniversary this year.