Prince and Princess star in new gala portraits

New gala portraits of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark have been released. The Danish Royal House shared the images on Tuesday, March 25. A solo shot of both Marie and Joachim was released, as well as one of the Princess holding her husband's arm.

© Les Kaner, Kongehuset

The gala portraits were taken by photographer Les Kaner at Amalienborg on New Year's Day (Jan. 1) before the New Year’s banquet. Marie was photographed dressed in her blue velvet Rikke Gudnitz gown, which she teamed with Princess Dagmar’s Diamond Floral Tiara. Both she and Joachim wore the Order of the Elephant on a chain-link collar. The Royal House has previously stated that, "Generally, the Order of the Elephant is worn on the sash, but on certain occasions, including the New Year’s banquet on 1 January, the Order of the Elephant is worn on the characteristic collar."

© Les Kaner, Kongehuset

According to Billed-Bladet, the last gala portraits of Marie and Joachim were published in 2019, and were taken in connection with the Danish Prince's 50th birthday.

With the release of the Prince and Princess' new portraits, the Royal House noted, "There is a tradition that new official portraits of members of The Royal Family are produced at regular intervals. These portraits are used by The Royal House of Denmark as well as by the organisations and institutions of which Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are the patrons. In addition, the portraits will function as official gifts from The Prince and The Princess."

© Les Kaner, Kongehuset

Joachim is King Frederik's younger brother. The Prince and Marie, who wed in 2008, share two kids: Count Henrik and Countess Athena of Monpezat. Joachim also has two older sons, Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat, from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. The royal dad of four has been dubbed the "coolest dad" by his firstborn. Last week, Nikolai celebrated his father's new documentary Hærvejen, writing on his Instagram Story: "the coolest dad in his upcoming documentary!"   

Joachim and Marie currently reside in Washington, D.C., where the Prince works as the defence industry attaché at the Danish Embassy. He and his wife moved to the United States in 2023 with their two kids, Henrik and Athena. Speaking to The Washington Post last year, Prince Joachim said: "We’ve lived here for seven months now, and very few people know who we are, Danes apart."