On January 14, 2024, Crown Princess Mary departed from Frederick VIII Palace in a motorcade bound for Christiansborg Castle. She smiled at the crowd in a pure white dress from the window of her car, her flawless tailoring visible through the glass. Shortly after 2pm local time, she was crowned queen consort with her husband, Denmark’s new King Frederick. It was a historic moment and she wore historic costumes by Danish designer Soren Le Schmidt. “Beyond grateful,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for choosing me.”
The new queen has long been a fan of the Danish designer and wore a Le Schmidt design to King Charles III’s coronation in May this year. He is known for his classic tailoring and use of dyed silks and dyed satins, and his designs appeal to stylish and fashionable women. (Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt also walked the runway at the Spring 2024 show.)
King Frederick and Queen Mary of Denmark kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 14, 2024.Photo: Getty Images
His dress for Queen Mary was completely regal yet modern. The long sleeves and cowl neck felt traditional enough for the occasion, but the belted skirt with silver buckles also had plenty of flair. Even more dynamic? The white sash around her shoulders seems like a high-fashion take on the royal accessory that adorns many formal outfits.
The choice of white is also important. White is not only part of the Danish flag, but also symbolizes integrity and morality.
Smiling and waving to the crowd on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, the new queen seemed at ease with Les Schmidt’s work, and the estimated 100,000 people gathered in the streets of Copenhagen, many of them wearing Danish flags. I said hello to the person I had. It was an exemplary example of expressing confidence through her clothes.