The beloved ballet, set in Copenhagen, tells the story of a young girl named Clara who is transported to a magical world on Christmas Eve. Queen Margrethe played a key role in the premiere of Tivoli’s restaging of the production at Tivoli’s Concert Hall in Copenhagen.

Following the performance, the Queen was greeted with a standing ovation as she took the stage, curtsying five times alongside the cast and crew. She designed the set and costumes, contributing three new outfits for the spinning top characters.

“I take great joy in contributing to the ballet production of The Nutcracker,” Her Majesty said. “Even after six stagings, it remains inspiring for the whole team to make small adjustments and refinements that enhance the experience. It’s been an exciting project.”

The cast received a warm round of applause, led by her son, King Frederik, his wife Queen Mary, and her sister, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, along with Queen Sonja of Norway. Queen Margrethe’s grandchildren—Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, and Count Felix—also attended, as did her sister Princess Benedikte.

This marks the sixth time the show has been staged, but it’s not the first time Queen Margrethe has lent her artistic skills. Since 2001, she has been involved with Tivoli Gardens, even designing the sets and costumes for the Danish Netflix series Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction.

The Queen has been engaged in various forms of art since 1970, including painting, textiles, watercolors, prints, book illustrations, and scenography. She is also an honorary member of the Danish Scenographers Association for her work in Danish film, television, and theater.

Now that she is no longer Denmark’s reigning monarch, following her abdication in January 2024 after 52 years on the throne, Queen Margrethe can focus more on her creative passions. She stepped back after undergoing complex back surgery and realizing it was the right time to pass the crown to her son, Frederik.

In September 2024, she suffered a fall that injured her neck and fractured her hand, but Queen Mary shared that Her Majesty is recovering well. This Christmas, Queen Margrethe will celebrate with her grandchildren at Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus.