Vogue Scandinavia speaks to the Danish mastermind behind Queen Mary of Denmark's proclamation look, and shares all on what it means to be the man behind the very first ensemble for the new reigning Queen
Danish designer Søren Le Schmidt is no stranger to dressing royalty. His designs have often been tapped by the now Queen Mary of Denmark, who was last spotted sporting a royal purple design of his for the coronation of King Charles III of England in May last year.
But to design the dress for the new monarch's first public appearance – a dress that will no doubt go down in Danish history – was special. "I was very honoured, happy, proud, and not least grateful to be asked to design this particular dress," le Schmidt told Vogue Scandinavia. "The first dress that Queen Mary would wear under her new title as Queen – a dress for the history books – means a great deal. I am very moved."
The dress itself is "relatively simple", according to the designer, featuring long, narrow sleeves, strong shoulders, and volume in the skirt. "Additionally, it is constructed with a separate waist belt that has a voluminous drape from the waist, around the neck, and over one shoulder," the designer adds.
Photo: Getty
Made from a wool and viscose blend, the weight of the off-white garment was soft but heavy, painting the perfect background for pieces from the new Queen's favourite ruby jewellery set. "The colours of Denmark are red and white, so a graphically beautiful white dress adorned with the earrings and a brooch from the Ruby Set seemed like the right choice," notes Le Schmidt, adding that it was "very beautiful."
The news of HM Queen Margrethe II's abdication came on New Year's Eve, which sent Le Schmidt into a flurry of activity. "It's relatively new for all of us that the proclamation was to take place today," he says. "I have only been working on this historic dress for 14 days."
Photo: Getty
Despite the lack of time to reflect, the choices behind the design of the dress were filled with meaning: "It honours the Danish land," says Le Schmidt, referencing the red and white colour scheme.
For Le Schmidt, this is a significant moment in an already illustrious career. "It means a lot to me as a designer. I have always loved working with Queen Mary, but being allowed to design the first dress for Her Majesty under the title Queen means the world to me," he explains. "It is hard to put into words because the joy, pride, and gratitude overshadow everything right now."
To wrap up, the Danish designer explains how it was an "incredible feeling" to watch Queen Mary wear his dress today. "I have been with my family and watched it on TV," he says. "I've been moved, honoured, and proud all day. I am very, very happy."