The people of Copenhagen will probably fiercely defend the fact that Queen Margrethe II is a Copenhagener, and that the Danish capital is the seat of the reigning monarch.
And the people of Århus would never do anything to question this. They are quite satisfied that their city, also known as the capital of Jutland, is also the Queen’s and the entire Royal family’s. In establishing a number of proud family traditions which made Marselisborg Manor the natural centre of events, the Queen’s parents and grandparents gave Århus this status.

These traditions have since been upheld by the present Royal couple. With only a few exceptions, the Royal couple have spent their summer holidays in Århus, which forms the natural centre for the abundance of royal duties performed on the mainland.

Furthermore, the Royal family normally celebrates the religious festivals, Christmas and Easter, in Århus, and these visits are thoroughly enjoyed by the people of Århus, as well as when the Queen visits Århus Cathedral, Århus Theatre, the Concert Hall Aarhus, the Museum of Prehistory at Moesgård or even one of the city’s shops during a stroll down the pedestrian shopping street.

Tennis enthusiasts can enjoy the sight of Prince Henrik showing his skills on the tennis courts at the city’s stadium, Århus sports park.

As mentioned, the Queen’s affection for Århus goes back to the time she spent at Marselisborg Manor during her childhood, and consequently it came as no surprise that she decided to study at the University of Århus.

Since then, Crown Prince Frederik has followed his mother’s example, and he even became the first member of the Royal family to be awarded an academic degree.

As a result of her close links with Århus, the Queen has assumed the role of patroness for a large number of cultural events and charities and almost every year opens the Århus Festival.

The people of Århus showed their appreciation of the Queen’s work when, in 1997, they took part in the jubilee celebrations marking the 25th year of her reign.