Hofdame Note: This is tomorrow’s post a bit early since we had the information ready. We’ll update this on Tuesday with the second day of the Danish receptions.
Let us cautiously open the door to 2023! After the last couple of wild-ride years, we have no idea what the future brings. However, the Danish and and Japanese families are ready to welcome us into the abyss with some sparkle and glamour, and I’ll take that!
Denmark, January 1
H.M. The Queen is the host at the New Yearβs levee and banquet on 1 January 2023 at 20:00 at Christian VII’s Palace, Amalienborg, where TRH The Crown Prince and The Crown Princess, TRH Prince Joachim, and HRH Princess Benedikte will be present. The guests arrive starting at 6:50 p.m. local time.
Danish Royal Family website
Look at this beautiful room, all ready for the festivities!
Queen Margrethe, who is a fan of re-wears, wore her much-loved blue gown (by Birgitte Thaulow, H/T to own Mrs. Diamond!). It was most recently seen in the last official family photograph. The Pearl Poire parure was her jewel of choice. (She had some trouble with one of the earrings, and had to take it off for a bit before she hit the receiving line. Was it uncomfortable? Improperly attached? We’ll never know.) I am a sucker for a square neckline, although the fabric (velvet? velour?) does not photograph all that well, in my opinion.
Crown Princess Mary re-wore the sparkling Lasse Spangenberg dress from her 50th birthday photos. As is her custom, she wore the Ruby Parure, this time with the smaller configuration of the earrings. She also tucked her ruby hair pins into her updo.

Princess Benedikte wore red, a color that I don’t really associate with her, although I think she should wear it more often. It gives her a pretty lively glow. Her gown is by Wichmann Couture, and she also wore the very succinctly named Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara.
The Danish Royal Family attend the New Year Reception pic.twitter.com/WID3ZVlnj6
β Queen Maxima and Royal Ladies (@vaninaswchindt) January 1, 2023
Unfortunately, Princess Marie was unable to attend as one of the children was ill. Prince Joachim was in attendance, though.

It’s always a treat to see “in-motion” shots.
Denmark, January 3
H.M. The Queen hosts a New Year’s leeve together with The Crown Prince Couple on Tuesday, 3 January 2023 at 09:50 at Christian VII’s Palace, Amalienborg. The guests arrive starting at 09:30 am.
Participants: Justices of the Supreme Court and the officer corps of the Royal Life Guard and the Guard Hussar Regiment.
The diplomatic corps participates in the New Yearβs levee on Tuesday, 3 January 2023 at 11:30 at Christiansborg Palace, where HM The Queen and The Crown Prince Couple will be present. The guests arrive starting at 10:50 am.
Participants: The present chiefs of mission of the diplomatic corps with spouses as well as side-accredited ambassadors with spouses.
A New Year’s levee is held with the participation of H.M. The Queen and The Crown Prince Couple on Wednesday, 4 January 2023 starting at 09.30 at Christiansborg Palace. The guests arrive in the 09.00-12:45 time period.
Participants: Officers from the Defence and the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the I., II. and III. ranking classes and invited guests of major national organizations and royal patronages.
Danish Royal website
The daytime receptions have commenced in Denmark, and as we know, this is the tricky dress code. Long dresses, no tiaras, sort of a throwback to another time. Usually the Queen repeats her favorite blue dress and the Crown Princess sports a re-do, but, today….
Ta da! Daisy is not wearing her traditional blue dress today. A dress, by some accounts, that she has been wearing for almost 25 years. Behold the Queen in a very royal dress jacket and gown combination, which reportedly was made for her Jubilee year. It was presented to her by the Craftsman’s Association in Copenhagen. Also, brooch babes, note the decoration at the neckline!

The Crown Princess has repeated one of my favorites, which is very old, dating back to early New Year’s reception appearances. The gown is by Heartmade. In 2017, the Crown Princess had it re-done, removing the jacket and adding this blouse.
TRH Crown Prince Frederik and #CrownPrincessMary arrived for the NytΓ₯rskur at Christiansborg Slot.
π₯ Billed Bladet #detdanskekongehus pic.twitter.com/jecNdkoBfM
β ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) January 3, 2023


Mary, wearing the dress in its original configuration in 2013.
Denmark, January 4
A New Year’s levee is held with the participation of H.M. The Queen and The Crown Prince Couple on Wednesday, 4 January 2023 starting at 09.30 at Christiansborg Palace. The guests arrive in the 09.00-12:45 time period.
Participants: Officers from the Defence and the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the I., II. and III. ranking classes and invited guests of major national organizations and royal patronages.
The Queen broke out her full on fur over her new favorite dress for today’s levees. the Crown Princess is in the same color family, repeating a blog favorite, the purple caped Lasse Spangenberg. She’s worn this – unaltered – for several receptions since its debut in 2017.



Japan, January 1
The first royals to ring in the New Year are the Japanese. The Emperor, Empress and Princess Aiko sent out a video from the Imperial Residence to start off the celebrations.
Screenshots from 2023 Imperial New Year video – Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko
December 23, 2022 at Imperial residence. They are viewing a book of Kawabata Gyokusho and Murase Gyokuden paintings from the Imperial collections.
πΉ https://t.co/qDn83j3eDT pic.twitter.com/o5mc9fTdN1β Prisma π· (@ImperialJPNfan) January 1, 2023
We also received photos (taken in early December) of the Emperor and Empress Emeritus.
2023 New Year – Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko
Photos were taken on December 6, 2022 at Sento Imperial residence.
πΈ Imperial Household Agency via Jiji, Sankei, FNN pic.twitter.com/3h1I0UXyd9β Prisma π· (@ImperialJPNfan) January 1, 2023
Due to the continuing pandemic, the Emperor and Empress requested that tiaras not be worn to the New Year’s reception. Instead, the Imperial Family donned their traditional robe dΓ©colletΓ© and some discrete glow in the form of pearl necklaces and earrings. In the sea of creams, Princess Kako stands out in her shimmering aqua.
TV Tokyo’s 2023 New Year Reception video has more coverage of the Mikasa and Takamado Princesseshttps://t.co/dkoftTD5Sv
β Prisma π· (@ImperialJPNfan) January 1, 2023
Here are some additional links for more photos and information.
January 1: Imperial family attended 2023 New Year Receptions at the Imperial Palace.
Morning: family, IHA, Imperial police, government, etc.
Afternoon: ambassadors
πΈ https://t.co/nKPuYcD8z4
πΈ https://t.co/RBbg12M5e3
πΈ https://t.co/Ra8ITJ6qOn
πΈ https://t.co/nVGAYq5VyL pic.twitter.com/iN7r3bzmFyβ Prisma π· (@ImperialJPNfan) January 1, 2023
Japan, January 2
The whole family gathered to extend New Year’s greetings to the public – the first time in three years. The women are in in robe montante. L to R: The Empress and Emperor Emeritus, the Emperor and Empress, Princess Aiko, the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and Princess Kako.
Comments
When we get official photos of the Danish second day reception, we’ll update the post. In the meantime, let us know what you think!