Queen Mary is celebrating her 54th birthday today. Born on February 5, 1972, in Hobart, Tasmania, the wife of King Frederik X has carved out a distinctive style, one that shines brightest in formalwear. She delivers majesty without excess, proving that impact doesn’t require overconsumption. Below, we spotlight her most striking gala moments and unpack the fashion codes that define her look, with insight from Alejandro de Miguel.
What defines Queen Mary’s style?
© Samir HusseinQueen Mary is known for her elegant style
“Mary of Denmark has a very natural, thoughtfully considered style,” says de Miguel. “At relaxed events, she projects warmth and calm with simple yet impeccably chosen looks. At major occasions, she opts for serene elegance, no theatrics, favoring beautifully cut dresses that flatter without exaggerating. She never looks costumed; she always looks like herself.”
“Her approach is honest. She doesn’t dress to shock or seek attention, but to be coherent with her role, and that’s deeply elegant to witness. In that sense, she recalls Queen Sofía: discretion, respect for the institution, and impeccable bearing. Mary enjoys fashion with intelligence and criteria, not solely for impact. That makes a real difference in a queen.”
A key part of that difference is her mastery of rewearing. “It signals a modern, conscious woman,” de Miguel notes. “She understands a dress can have multiple lives. It’s not just reuse, it’s reinterpretation, adapting a piece to a new moment. Elegant and perfectly aligned with today’s expectations of public figures.”
We also proposed a challenge for him: what would he design for her? “A clean, elegant gown with a flattering silhouette and a fabric that moves with presence. A deep, sophisticated color and a special detail revealed gradually—never too much. A dress that mirrors her demeanor: confident, serene, and very elegant.”
Queen Mary of Denmark’s most memorable gala looksA Lebanese gown with a cape
© Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty ImaQueen Mary’s dress for the state visit of the president of Lithuania
On January 28, 2026, during a State Visit to Lithuania, Queen Mary dazzled in a deep garnet crepe gown with a cape by Elie Saab, paired with matching pumps by Gianvito Rossi. She wore an Edwardian-era tiara she purchased in 2012 from Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen, a convertible early-20th-century jewel set with old-cut diamonds, rubies, and spinels.
Blue velvet elegance
© Martin Sylvest AndersenKing Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark at two years on the throne: popularity, power, and the Greenland challenge
For New Year receptions on January 5, 2026, she debuted a midnight-blue velvet two-piece, made up of a peplum jacket and straight skirt, by Jesper Høvring. She finished the look with Pearl Poiré parure jewels once favored by Queen Margrethe II, and a navy clutch she’s owned since 2014.
The lace blouse that changed everything
© Getty ImagesQueen Mary of Denmark at the New Year’s Court/the New Year’s Day Parade
At the Amalienborg Palace New Year’s banquet on January 1, 2026, Mary refreshed a familiar Høvring gown by layering a sheer lace blouse by Lasse Spangenberg beneath a strapless, corseted bodice. Satin pumps by Gianvito Rossi, a snake-skin clutch by Judith Leiber, historic diamond jewels, and the Order of the Elephant completed the look.
A bridal nod in white
© Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty ImaDenmarks Queen Mary and King Frederik X at The Royal Couple’s New Year’s Reception
At her first New Year’s reception for diplomats as queen, she re-wore a bespoke white brocade gown by Teri Jon by Rickie Freeman, first seen in Greenland in July 2024. She paired it with heirloom diamonds once belonging to Princess Anne of Orange, including a bracelet gifted by King Charles XV of Sweden.
A brand-new tiara moment
© SOPA Images/LightRocket via GettAbdel Fatah al-Sisi delivers his speech during the Royal Couples gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace
On December 6, 2024, at a state banquet honoring Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at Christiansborg Palace, Queen Mary unveiled a newly created tiara fashioned—per her vision—from a belt that belonged to Queen Louise, the great-great-grandmother of King Frederik X.
A “new” blue gown
© Getty ImagesQueen Mary attends the State Banquet at Christiansborg Palace
For their first State Banquet as monarchs on October 8, 2024, Mary transformed a jeweled bodice by Jesper Høvring (previously worn in 2023) by pairing it with a ruffled, solid skirt by Oscar de la Renta that she’s owned since 2005.
Two familiar pieces, one entirely fresh effect.
A rivière necklace and a queen-only tiara
© Getty ImagesKing Frederik X and Queen Mary at the State Banquet at Christiansborg Palace
That same evening, she wore the Poire tiara, reserved for Denmark’s queens, for the second time, along with a diamond rivière necklace and earrings with royal provenance.
Green velvet grandeur
© Steen Evald / KongehusetThe portrait of the King and Queen
Released on April 25, 2024, the Danish Royal House’s first official gala portraits of the new reign showed Queen Mary in a sublime green velvet gown by Birgit Hallstein, featuring a strapless neckline, fitted waist, and tonal lace sleeves with a high, chimney collar: pure, modern majesty.