Queen Margrethe wins the Danish “Oscar” for best costume design for her work on the film “Ehrengard, or the art of seduction”

The ex-monarch received a Robert Award for his work on an adaptation of a book by Danish author Karen Blixen – known for her memoir “Out of Africa” ​​- and directed by Bille August, one of the Danish filmmakers the most famous.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, aged 83, who abdicated in January 2024 in favor of her son Frederik, won a Robert Award on Saturday February 3, the Danish equivalent of the Oscar for best costume designer, for her work on the Netflix film Ehrengard, or the art of seductiondirected by Bille August, one of Denmark’s best-known filmmakers.

The Queen, who cited health concerns when she announced her surprise abdication during her annual New Year’s speech, was not present at the awards ceremony in Copenhagen. The film’s producer, Marcella Dichmann, accepted the award on his behalf.

Painter, illustrator, costume designer

Alongside her royal duties, the Queen has made a name for herself as an artist over the years. She is a painter and illustrator and has worked numerous times as a costume designer and set designer for the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Danish Theatre. The Queen also designed the sets for Ehrengard and was also nominated for a Robert Award in this category.

Very popular in Denmark, she studied at Cambridge in England and at the Sorbonne in Paris and is fluent in English, French, German and Swedish.

She has also translated plays, including All men are mortal of Simone de Beauvoir with her husband of French origin, Prince Consort Henrik, under a pseudonym. She has illustrated several books, including a 2002 Danish edition of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and her paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries in Denmark and abroad.

The queen underwent back surgery last year and passed the throne to her son on January 14 after a 52-year reign, making him King Frederik X. She retained her title as queen following her abdication.