What is the King's New Year's Levee?
What is the King's New Year's Court?
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An official court ceremony marking the new year
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Normally held on January 1st and 2nd
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Takes place at Amalienborg / Christiansborg
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Dress code: White tie (white tie, orders and decorations)
Who attended last year (New Year's Court 2024)?
The New Year's Court at the beginning of 2024 followed the classic model. Participants included:
🏛️ State and Society
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The Government (Prime Minister + ministers)
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The Speaker of Parliament
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The President of the Supreme Court and other top judges
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The Attorney General
🎖️ The Military
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The Chief of Defence
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Generals, admirals, and selected high-ranking officers
🌍 Diplomacy
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Ambassadors accredited in Denmark
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The Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
🏰 The Court
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Members of the Royal Family
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Court officials and bearers of orders
👉 Important: It is positions, not individuals, who are invited – changes happen automatically when one changes office.
Who will attend this year (New Year's Court 2025)?
Essentially the same circles:
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The sitting government
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The top echelons of Parliament and the courts
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The supreme command of the armed forces
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Accredited ambassadors
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The Royal Family and the Court
Even though Denmark now has King Frederik X, the:
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ceremony,
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circles of participants
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and dress code
=) remain unchanged in their structure
In short
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❌ No public guest list
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✅ Invitation by office, rank, and function
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✅ Held on fixed days in January
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✅ White tie is mandatory
Dress code
-Why White Tie?
The New Year's Court is: the most formal event in Danish court life
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strongly inspired by 19th-century European court traditions
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a signal of state continuity and dignity
Men: white tie, orders, possibly a saber
It is also called "kjole og hvidt" (dress and white). The tailcoat is also called a swallowtail, because of the 2 long "skirts," i.e., the extended back that goes far down towards the man's heels. The jacket does not close completely and is double-breasted with silk lapels and covered buttons.
Women: long evening gown, often with orders and a tiara
