The Royal Danish CollectionAmalienborgThe kingsChristian VIIChristian VII's robe

Christian VII’s robe

Christian 7th couldn’t himself decide what to wear on his coronation in 1767. Since his great-great-great-great grandfather Christian 4th’s coronation, it had become a tradition that new kings wore a special, fine and expensive coronation suit. It was made of white silk woven with gold, and cut to imitate the style of a Spanish nobleman from the late 1500’s. At the coronation ceremony the King put on the red velvet mantle embroidered with gold, and lined with ermine, one of the most exclusive royal symbols in all of Europe. The garments and mantle kept their old-fashioned style, like the ceremony itself, for almost 300 years, right up to the last Danish coronation in 1840.

Coronations are the most glorious ceremonies in the hierarchy of power. The clothes that the King wore, in the time before television cameras, helped to make him visible at a distance. The coronation robes are the manifestation of his ascending the throne, with God’s benediction, and it had to be highly visible, with sweeping lengths of silk velvet, glittering jewels, gold brocaded fabrics, cascades of lace, and fluttering plumes. The garments were heavy, expensive, uncomfortable and delicate, which forced the King to move slowly and solemnly.

A king’s daily garments in 1767 mainly resembled the new, fashionable uniforms, so his coronation garments – which he only wore that one day – looked very exotic. His short, skirt-like breeches and the fitted doublet were just as peculiar in 1767 as knee breeches and lace cravats would be for us today.

Relations

14 Frederik V's Cabinet

This is the first of the rooms occupied by Frederik IV's brother, Prince Carl.

1800-1825

At the beginning of the 19th century, the long peaceful period ended. International relations in connection with the Napoleonic Wars made it difficult for Denmark to stay neutral.

23 The Porcelain Cabinet (closed)

Frederik IV planned to have a porcelain cabinet to form a counterpart to the Glass Cabinet. Such cabinets became fashionable at princely courts in Europe by the end of the 17th century.

Frederik V

Frederik V was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1746; son of Christian VI and Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, and father of Christian (VII).

Caroline Mathilde, 1771

Caroline Mathilde. Copy of original by Jens Juel from 1771.

Portrait of Caroline Mathilde, ca. 1767

This portrait of Caroline Mathilde is from around 1767, and is therefore one of the earliest portraits we have of her. The picture depicts the young queen about a year after she married the Danish king, Christian VII. It therefore portrays her before she began her famous affair with the king’s personal physician JF Struensee. The painting is attributed to the Danish artist Peder Als (1727-1776) who was one of the artists who paved the way for neoclassicism in Danish portraiture. He also painted other royal portraits, not just of Caroline Mathilde, but of the king and the crown prince. The queen is portrayed here with her hair powdered white, and adorned with lace which falls over her right shoulder. She wears an aqua blue dress adorned with lace along the neckline, and bows on the chest and arms. She has adorned her ears and neck with white stones in the form of earrings and an aqua blue necklace. On the left of the queen is a bouquet of white flowers with a light blue bow.

19 The Corridor

The Corridor on the second floor connects the central room on the floor, The Rose, with the South-end of the Palace.