More than lace and ribbons

The Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen was filled with lace and ribbons as the Queen of Denmark held a banquet for the President of Turkey and his wife who are on a state visit.  All the ladies of the royal household were in evening gowns which, in three cases, involved lace and all four had on the sashes of the royal orders to which they belong, meaning there was lots of blue ribbon to be seen.

Margrethe II of Denmark arriving at a state banquet given in honour of the President of Turkey and his wife

Queen Margrethe II, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte all wore dresses with lace trim.  It was only Princess Mary who went against the trend in a pale pink satin dress.  But all the ladies along with their princes wore the distinctive blue ribbons of the Order of the Elephant.  The order is the most distinguished in the country and has been bestowed on around 890 people since it began with 68 of them receiving the honour in the reign of Queen Margrethe.  It is usually only given to royalty or to heads of state and on three special days in the year, it is worn on a collar rather than the blue ribbon sash seen at the state banquet.  It is worn at the most important occasions in the Danish calendar when, despite the tiaras and the necklaces, there is much more to see than just lace and ribbons.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark on her arrival at the state banquet in Copenhagen given for the President of Turkey and his wife