Denmark's queen, royals celebrate New Year in style

New Year's is a big deal in Denmark.

Queen Margrethe II hosts two formal events and gives an annual address to the nation to mark the holiday.

This year, the queen, dressed in dark blue velvet, and Prince Consort Henrik held a gala banquet at Christian VII's Palace on Jan. 1. Featured guests were her oldest son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, and her younger son, Prince Joachim, and his wife, Princess Marie.

The bejeweled princesses both wore colorful floor-length gowns. The crown princess wore a tangerine gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a draped skirt, anchored with a sparkling pin and a diamond-and-ruby tiara.

Her sister-in-law, Princess Marie, wore a bright pink satin gown with long sleeves, a high neckline and a slim skirt. According to Hello magazine, she also wore the same borrowed diamond tiara she wore at her 2008 wedding.

Two days later, on Jan. 3, the queen, her husband, the crown prince and the crown princess received guests at the palace during a New Year's Levee or reception. The women again wore long gowns and elaborate jewels; the men again wore military uniforms.

The 72-year-old queen, starting the 41st year of her reign, gave a 15-minute televised speech Tuesday to the nation in which she warned about the problems facing the European Union and the danger of social media.