Court mourning
The death of a monarch has always been a significant event and has been observed in a variety of ways, including through court mourning.
Court mourning explained
Court mourning has been known since the Middle Ages. It is a mourning period observed by the royal court after a death. The duration is determined by the ruling monarch and depends on who the deceased person was and their relations to the royal family.
Court mourning under absolutism
Under absolutism (1661–1849), court mourning involved strict rules. There were different levels of court mourning, each with its own specific dress code, including rules for women’s jewellery. The rules were very detailed, right down to the colour of buttons.
In addition to dress code, court mourning also affected activities at the court. Generally, all social events and entertainment, such as parties or stage performances, were banned. Thus, court mourning was also a way of putting public life on hold in honour of the person who had passed away. Over the course of the mourning period, the rules were gradually eased until they were finally lifted entirely.
Black wax seal
Normally, letters are sealed with red wax, but during mourning, the court used black wax. This seal is from a letter dated 20 April 1850, addressed to the Commandant of Rosenborg Castle. The seal was applied after the death of Frederik VI.
Court mourning today
Court mourning remains in use to this day, although the dress code has been eased over time. Today, court mourning simply calls for dressing in dark colours or wearing a black armband on one’s left arm. Public events are also avoided during the mourning period.
The duration of court mourning
Historically, the duration and degree of court mourning have varied, based on who the deceased person was. It might last anything from one day to several months. During the second half of the 19th century, it was common to observe court mourning even for distant relatives of the royal family, but over time, the circle was narrowed. In more recent times, court mourning has been reserved for deaths in the closest family or in other royal families with close ties to the Danish royal family.
The longest mourning period is observed for the death of a monarch, with shorter durations for other deaths in the royal family. For example, when Frederik IX died, in January 1972, the court observed two months of mourning, while court mourning for the passing of both Queen Ingrid, in 2000, and Prince Henrik, in 2018, lasted one month.
Although there was no official declaration of court mourning in Denmark in 2022, when Queen Elisabeth II of the United Kingdom died, Queen Margrethe II still chose to tone down the events marking her own 50th jubilee that year. This may be viewed as a remnant of earlier court mourning traditions, when deaths in closely related royal families in other countries were marked with a period of court mourning in Denmark.
Black wax candle
This black wax candle from the funeral of Frederik VI has been preserved in the Royal Danish Collection
Court mourning or national mourning
Under absolutism (1661–1849), monarchy and state were one and the same, and thus, court mourning took the form of a national period of mourning. Today, we speak of court mourning, because the royally proclaimed mourning period only applies to the royal family. Still, however, a death in the royal family is also marked outside the royal court; for example, government buildings will fly the flag at half mast.
When Frederik IX died, in 1972, the Ministry of Justice further issued a directive that banned public entertainment on two dates: 15 January, the day of HM Queen Margrethe’s proclamation, and 24 January, the day of Frederik IX’s funeral. On those two days, concerts and sporting events had to be cancelled, and cinemas and theatres had to stay closed.
National mourning in other countries
Several countries still observe a period of national mourning in the case of deaths or other events that affect the nation as a whole, such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks. For example, the Vatican and several Catholic countries declared nine days of mourning when Pope Francis died, in April 2025.
Film
Delve into one of most fascinating but little-known Danish traditions: the observation of court mourning at the death of a monarch. The museum curator Jesper Munk Larsen takes you on a journey through time, outlining the main historical developments from the 18th century to now.