Our Royal Patrons

06 March 2024 11:33am

We are absolutely delighted to announce that both His Majesty King Charles III and His Majesty King Frederik X have graciously accepted the Patronage of the Anglo-Danish Society. This would be wonderful news at any time but in this, our Centenary year, it has a greater significance and will mean so much more for our members as they celebrate reaching such a significant milestone in our history. Our purpose has always been to improve relations between Britain and Denmark and our new Patrons will continue to reflect that aim and unity of purpose.”
We have been very privileged to have had two Royal Patrons, most recently the late Queen and Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark until her abdication earlier this year. In addition, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Denmark and Greece) was an Honorary Member until his death in April 2021.
HRH the Duchess of Gloucester GCVO has been the Protector of the Scholarship Programme since 2011. We enjoy her continued and generous support of our Society.
Our Society was founded on 17th December 1924 with the encouragement of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark).
As Sir Andrew Stark, Chairman, stated in his speech at our Diamond Jubilee Gala Dinner at the Savoy in 1984: ‘A group of Danish and British gentlemen presided over by Count Ahlefeldt-Laurvig had decided that Anglo-Danish relations, having proceeded favourably for over 100 years, should be further developed and encouraged by the creation of an Anglo-Danish Society in London.’
Queen Alexandra was the first to sign the Society’s guestbook in April 1925. She died at Sandringham in November that same year. Her son, King George V, signed on 4th February 1926 followed by King Christian X, Queen Alexandrine and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (later King Frederik IX) – our first Royal Patrons.
During the following years members of our two royal families and dignitaries from the worlds of Politics, the Armed Forces, and the Arts were actively involved in the Society.
The famous ballet dancer, Dame Adeline Genée-Isitt, became our first female Chairman (1931-1933). Names like Lord Alexander, Clement Attlee, Sir Anthony Eden, Christmas Møller, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Victor Schiøler and many more spring from the pages of the guestbook.
HE the Danish Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, René Dinesen, is our current Honorary President and the Head of Representation of the Faroe Islands in the UK, Kate Sanderson, is our Honorary Vice President.
This year we celebrated our Centenary and the main event was a Centenary Gala Dinner, which took place at Drapers’ Hall in the City of London on Friday, 6th December 2024.