Crowning Moments
You are invited on a journey through changing trends and spaces of power in this special exhibition, where the story of Denmark is told through 11 selected objects, each one a witness to epoch-making moments in the history of the kingdom.
An exhibition about the role of the Royal House of Denmark in Danish history, from romantic scandals and abdication to national unity and women’s emancipation.
The Royal House as a prism of Danish history
The exhibition Crowning Moments at Koldinghus takes you on a journey through Danish history, viewed through the lens of the Royal House. From the mists of legend to modern democracy, from Bible printing to women’s emancipation, the exhibition demonstrates how the Royal House has helped shape Denmark as we know it.
The items in the exhibition act as a prism of stories that have left an imprint in the collective memory and development of the nation. Here you will see iconic as well as never-before-exhibited objects that open the door to dramatic, significant and touching chapters of Danish history.
Historical objects with powerful stories to tell
A simple garter, found in the royal physician Struensee’s apartments, tells the story of a scandalous love affair between Queen Caroline Mathilde and Struensee and of a political power game that ended with an execution and the banishment of a queen.
The green Ball Pentel ballpoint pen represents a historic conclusion to a 52-year reign. It was used by HM Queen Margrethe II when she signed her abdication in 2024, thus marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
The silver-mounted hoof of the horse that helped carry Christian X across the former border at the Danish Reunification with South Jutland in 1920 has become a poetic symbol of national unity and hope. It carries the engraving ‘I carried The King across the border when South Jutland returned to Denmark’.
The items in the exhibition: facets of a single story
The Oldenborg Horn
A magnificent drinking horn in silver-gilt and enamel, shrouded in a myth about elf maidens and poisoned potions. The horn is related to the first royal coronation of the Kalmar Union and to the origins of the Royal House of Denmark.
Christian III’s Bible
The first complete Danish Bible, printed in 1550, became a monument to the Reformation and a turning point in Danish church and cultural history.
Satirical chessmen
A chess set from 1660 that portrays the Swedish King and the pawns (called ‘peasants’ in Danish) as deceitful beggars – an image of Frederik III’s view of his rival and the lost Scanian provinces.
Caroline Mathilde’s garter
An intimate object that revealed an illicit affair and became a piece of evidence in a scandal that shook the Court and changed the balance of power.
Rex Legia
The document from 1665 that ratified absolutism and the hereditary monarchy and cemented the king’s power as God-given and unassailable.
The Constitution Pen, 1849
Pen used by Frederik VII to sign Denmark’s first constitution in 1849 – a step towards democracy and a new role for the monarchy.
HM Queen Margrethe II’s abdication pen
The green ballpoint pen that was used at the abdication in 2024 – a writing utensil that ended a royal reign and opened a new chapter in the history of the Royal House.
The silver-mounted horse’s hoof
From Christian X’s ride across the former border at the Danish reunification with South Jutland in 1920 – a poetic symbol of national unity and hope.
HM Queen Margrethe II’s mourning dress
Worn at the public proclamation of her accession to the throne as Denmark’s first reigning queen, in 1972 – a historic shift and a renewal of tradition.
Queen Alexandrine’s driving licence
An early symbol of women’s emancipation and modernity in a time when women had recently gained the right to vote.
National prototypes
Standardised weights created by Ole Rømer in 1683 as a symbol of science and control during the absolute monarchy of Christian V.
The structure of the exhibition
The exhibition is organised as a chronological tour of highlights of Danish history, where each object represents a significant historical moment – from the establishment of the Kalmar Union, in 1397, to the abdication of HM Queen Margrethe II, in 2024.
The exhibition is presented in a theatrical setting with backlit display cases, film clips and audio tracks that support the communication of the context and significance of the individual objects.