Christian V’s anointing robe
This is a unique robe, as it was the very first worn by an absolute Danish king. It is also the oldest preserved robe in Denmark.
Embroidered with some 1,400 golden crowns and lined with ermine
Christian V’s anointing robe is made of red velvet, decorated with some 1,300 embroidered golden crowns and lined with ermine or rabbit fur. It is the only preserved anointing robe in Denmark, as the robe would normally be placed in king’s coffin and buried with him.
At the funeral of a monarch, the coffin is draped in the royal standard, with the anointing robe placed on top. The robe was created for the anointing of Christian V, in 1671, and worn during the anointing at Frederiksborg Castle Chapel. We do not know if it was placed on top of Christian V’s coffin. Subsequent kings each had a robe, which was placed in the coffin and buried with the king.
Images from both Frederik VI’s and Christian VIII’s funerals show the king lying in state in an open coffin, wrapped in his robe.
The tradition of placing the robe on the coffin lid dates back to Christian IX’s funeral in 1906. This practice gave Christian V’s robe a new role to play in the constitutional monarchy.
