The Danish Queen’s birthday was marred as a huge fire which engulfed a historic building in Copenhagen.
Queen Margrethe celebrated her 84th birthday on Tuesday, the same day that Denmark’s old stock exchange building set alight.
The Queen, who recently abdicated the throne in Denmark, marked the special date with two new royal portraits.
In one picture, Margrethe stands by a window at Fredensborg castle in a mauve dress and large, gold earrings and in the second image the Queen walks with her adorable dog named Tillia.
A fire erupted in Denmark on the same day as the Queen's birthday
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According to the Danish Royal Family’s Instagram post, the Queen celebrated the occasion “privately in the company of family and friends.”
Margrethe’s birthday is significant this year as it marks her first since abdicating the throne in January leaving her eldest son Frederik and his wife Mary to take the throne.
The Queen was the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down from the throne in almost 900 years.
On the same day as his mother’s birthday, King Frederik released a statement about the devastating fire which saw one of the city’s oldest buildings lose its iconic spire.
Queen Margrethe walks with her dog Tillia in Fredensborg castle
KELD NAVNTOFT, KONGEHUSET
The King said: “This morning, we woke up to a sad sight, as smoke over the roofs of Copenhagen gave evidence of the destructive fire at Børsen. An important part of our architectural cultural heritage was and continues to be in flames.
“Until today, we have considered the historic building as a beautiful symbol of our capital and a structure that we, as a nation, have been proud of.”
Members of the public ran into the building to try and rescue the historic paintings housed inside it.
Frederik continued: “For 400 years, Christian IV’s edifice Børsen has been a distinctive landmark of Copenhagen.
New portraits were released to mark the Queen's first birthday since her abdication
KELD NAVNTOFT, KONGEHUSET
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King Frederik released a statement thanking all those who fought to save the historic building
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“Throughout generations, the characteristic dragon spire has helped to depict Copenhagen as the 'city of towers'.
“The Queen and I would like to thank all of those who, since early this morning, have ensured that no one has been injured, and who have fought to save as much as possible of both the building as well as the many cultural treasures and works of art that Børsen holds.”
The building is located very close to Denmark's parliament, the Folketing, which is housed in the old royal palace of Christianborg Castle.
The historic site was undergoing renovation work when the fire erupted on Tuesday making the operation more difficult for emergency services.