List of grand commanders of the Order of Dannebrog

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Grand commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog have been appointed by the Sovereign of the Royal Danish Orders of Chivalry, i.e. the Danish monarch, since the general reorganization of the order by royal letters patent of June 28, 1808. The grand commanders form a special class above the three ordinary classes of the Order of the Dannebrog. Thus, they outrank the Knights Grand Cross of the Dannebrog. Together with the knights of the Order of the Elephant, grand commanders constitute the Chapter of the Royal Danish Orders of Chivalry.

Grand commanders are, or have been, either

prominent members of the Danish royal family,
kings and emperors related to the Danish monarch, or,
other close relations of royal or princely status who are not members of the Danish royal family

Presently seven persons wear the grand commander's insignia. They are the six grand commanders and King Frederik X, the sovereign of the order. By royal ordinance of October 10, 1951 women can be appointed grand commanders. Therefore, the women that appear in the list before that date were, strictly speaking, not appointed grand commanders as much as awarded the honour of wearing the insignia of a grand commander.

Grand commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog

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Nr	Date	Name	Title	Country	Motto	Notes
Frederik VI (1768–1839), the founder
1	28 June 1808	Frederik VI of Denmark	King of Denmark (1808–39) King of Norway (1808–14)	Denmark Norway	God and the just cause (Danish: Gud og den retfærdige sag)
2	14 December 1808	Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Augustenborg	Governor-General of Norway (1809–10) Crown Prince of Sweden (1810)	Denmark Norway Sweden
3	16 December 1813	Prince Frederik of Hesse-Cassel	Governor-General of Norway (1809–10)	Denmark Hesse		Brother-in-law and first cousin of Frederik VI
4	10 September 1817	Prince Carl of Hesse-Kassel	Governor-General of Norway (1766–68) Governor of Schleswig-Holstein (1769–1836)	Denmark Hesse		Father-in-law of Frederik VI
5	28 October 1828	Christian VIII of Denmark	Prince and Heir Presumptive of Denmark (1786–1808) King of Norway 1814 King of Denmark (1839–48)	Denmark Norway	God and the fatherland (Danish: Gud og Fædrelandet)	First cousin of Frederik VI. Appointed while Prince and Heir Presumptive (1808–39) in honour of the Queen's birthday. Appointed Master of the Order upon his succession to the throne.
Christian VIII (1839–48)
6	28 January 1840	Marie, Dowager Queen of Denmark	Princess of Hesse-Cassel (1767–90) Crown Princess of Denmark (1790–1808) Queen consort of Denmark (1808–39) Queen consort of Norway (1808–14) Dowager Queen of Denmark (1839–52)	Denmark Hesse Norway		Widow of King Frederik VI. Only awarded insignia.
7	10 June 1841	Frederik VII of Denmark	Crown Prince of Denmark (1808–48) King of Denmark (1848–63)	Denmark	The people's love, my strength (Danish: Folkets Kærlighed, min Styrke)	Son of Christian VIII. Appointed while Crown Prince (1808–48) in honour of his wedding to Duchess Caroline Mariane of Mecklenburg. Appointed Master of the Order upon his succession to the throne.
Frederik VII (1848–63)
8	1 August 1854	Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1792–1848) Heir Presumptive of Denmark (1848–63)	Denmark		Brother of Christian VIII. Appointed while Heir Presumptive. Died four months before his nephew.
9	10 June 1860	Carl XV & IV of Sweden and Norway	Duke of Skåne (1826–72) Crown Prince of Sweden (1844–59) King of Sweden and Norway (1859–72)	Sweden Norway		Father-in-law of Frederik VIII
10	10 November 1860	Vilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel	Prince of Hesse-Cassel (1787–1837) Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1937–67)	Hesse		Brother-in-law of Christian VIII and father-in-law of Christian IX.
Christian IX (1863–1906)
11	15 November 1863	Christian IX of Denmark	Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1825–53) Prince of Denmark (1853–63) King of Denmark (1863–1906)	Denmark	With God for honour and justice (Danish: Med Gud for ære og ret)	Didn't become Grand Commander till he succeeded to the throne. Upon his succession, he also became Master of the Order.
12	15 July 1865	Caroline Amalie, Dowager Queen of Denmark	Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1796–1815) Princess of Denmark (1815–39) Queen consort of Denmark (1839–48) Dowager Queen of Denmark (1848–81)	Denmark		Widow of Christian VIII. Only awarded insignia.
13	28 July 1869	Frederik VIII of Denmark	Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1843–53) Prince of Denmark (1853–63) Crown Prince of Denmark (1863–1906) King of Denmark (1906–12)	Denmark	The Lord is my aid (Danish: Herren er min hjælper)	Son of Christian IX. Appointed while Crown Prince (1863–1906) in honour of his wedding to Louise of Sweden. Appointed Master of the Order upon his succession to the throne.
14	30 June 1871	George I of Greece	Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1845–53) Prince of Denmark (1853–63) The King of the Hellenes (1863–1913)	Denmark Greece		Son of Christian IX.
15	7 September 1883	Queen Louise of Denmark	Princess of Hesse-Cassel (1817–42) Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1842–53) Princess of Denmark (1853–63) Queen consort of Denmark (1863–98)	Denmark Hesse		Consort of Christian IX. Only awarded insignia. Appointed in honour of her 66th birthday.
16	9 November 1891	Alexander III of Russia	Grand Duke of Russia (1845–65) Tsesarevich of Russia (1865–81) Emperor of Russia (1881–94)	Russia		Son-in-law of Christian IX. Appointed in honour of his and Dagmar of Denmark's 25th wedding anniversary.
17	26 November 1894	Nicholas II of Russia	Grand Duke of Russia (1868–81) Tsesarevich of Russia (1881–94) Emperor of Russia (1894–1917)	Russia		Grandson of Christian IX. Appointed when he succeeded to the Russian throne.
18	21 July 1900	Prince Valdemar of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1858–1939)	Denmark		Son of Christian IX.
19	9 September 1901	Edward VII of the United Kingdom	Duke of Cornwall (1841–1901) Prince of Wales (1841–1901) King of the United Kingdom (1901–11)	United Kingdom		Son-in-law of Christian IX.
Christian X (1912–47)
20	14 May 1912	Christian X of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1870–1906) Crown Prince of Denmark (1906–12) King of Denmark (1912–47) King of Iceland (1918–44)	Denmark Iceland	My God, my country, my honour (Danish: Min Gud, mit land, min ære)	Didn't become Grand Commander till he succeeded to the throne. Upon his succession, he also became Master of the Order.
21	14 May 1912	Haakon VII of Norway	Prince of Denmark (1872–1905) King of Norway (1905–57)	Denmark Norway		Brother of Christian X.
22	28 March 1913	Constantine I of Greece	Prince of Greece (1868–1913) Prince of Denmark (1868–1923) King of the Hellenes (1913–23)	Greece Denmark		First cousin of Christian X. Appointed upon his succession to the throne.
23	18 April 1913	George V of the United Kingdom	Prince of the United Kingdom 1865-92 Duke of York (1892–1901) Duke of Cornwall and York 1901 Prince of Wales (1901–10) King of the United Kingdom (1910–36)	United Kingdom		First cousin of Christian X.
24	10 July 1920	Prince George of Greece and Denmark	Prince of Greece and Denmark (1869–1957) High Commissioner of Crete (1898–1906)	Greece Denmark		First cousin of Christian X.
25	3 February 1936	Frederik IX of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1899–1912) Crown Prince of Denmark (1912–47) Crown Prince of Iceland (1918–44) King of Denmark (1947–72)	Denmark Iceland	With God for Denmark (Danish: Med Gud for Danmark)	Son of Christian X. Appointed while Crown Prince (1912–47).
26	15 May 1937	Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1900–53) Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1953–76)	Denmark		Son of Christian X.
27	1945	Gustaf V of Sweden	Duke of Värmland (1858–1950) Prince of Sweden and Norway (1958–72) Crown Prince of Sweden (1872–1907) Crown Prince of Norway (1872–1905) King of Sweden (1907–50)	Sweden		Grandfather of Christian X's daughter-in-law Ingrid of Sweden.
28	26 March 1947	Prince Axel of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1888–1964)	Denmark		First cousin of Christian X.
Frederik IX (1947–72)
29	26 May 1948	Alexandrine, Dowager Queen of Denmark	Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1879–98) Princess of Denmark (1898–1906) Crown Princess of Denmark (1906–12) Queen consort of Denmark (1912–47) Dowager Queen of Denmark (1947–52)	Denmark Mecklenburg-Schwerin		Consort of Christian X, and mother of Frederik IX. Only awarded insignia. Appointed in honour of the 50th anniversary of her arriving in Denmark.
30	8 May 1951	George VI of the United Kingdom	Prince of the United Kingdom (1895–1936) Duke of York (1920–36) King of the United Kingdom (1936–52)	United Kingdom		Second cousin of Frederik IX.
31	24 March 1952	Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden	Duke of Skåne (1882–1950) Prince of Sweden (1882–1907) Prince of Norway (1882–1905) Crown Prince of Sweden (1907–50) King of Sweden (1950–73)	Sweden		Father-in-law of Frederik IX.
32	11 September 1958	Olav V of Norway	Prince of Denmark (1903–05) Crown Prince of Norway (1905–57) King of Norway (1957–91)	Norway Denmark		First cousin of Frederik IX.
33	11 March 1959	Queen Ingrid of Denmark	Princess of Sweden 1910–35 Crown Princess of Denmark (1935–47) Crown Princess of Iceland (1935–44) Queen consort of Denmark (1947–72) Dowager Queen of Denmark (1972–2002)	Sweden Denmark		Consort of Frederik IX. Appointed in honour of Frederik IX's 50th birthday. First woman to be appointed Grand Commander on equal terms as the men.
34	29 January 1963	Paul of Greece	Prince of Greece (1901–35) Prince of Denmark (1901–64) Crown Prince of Greece (1935–47) King of the Hellenes (1947–64)	Greece Denmark		Second cousin of Frederik IX and father of his son-in-law, Constantine II of Greece. Appointed in honour of the engagement between Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark and Crown Prince Constantine of Greece.
35	12 March 1964	Constantine II of Greece	Prince of Greece (1940–47) Prince of Denmark (1940–2023) Crown Prince of Greece (1947–64) King of the Hellenes (1964–73)	Greece Denmark		Son-in-law of Frederik IX. Appointed upon his succession to the throne.
36	1968	Prince Viggo, Count of Rosenborg	Prince of Denmark (1893–1924) Count of Rosenborg (1924–70)	Denmark		First cousin once removed of Frederik IX.
Margrethe II (1972–present)
37	14 January 1972	Margrethe II of Denmark	Princess of Denmark (1940–53) Princess of Iceland (1940–44) Heiress Presumptive of Denmark (1953–72) Queen of Denmark (1972–present)	Denmark	God's help, the people's love, Denmark's strength (Danish: Guds hjælp, folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke)	Didn't become Grand Commander till she succeeded to the throne. Upon her succession, she also became Master of the Order.
38	16 April 1973	Prince Henrik of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1967–72) Prince consort of Denmark (1972–2018)	Denmark		Prince consort of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of her 33rd birthday.
39	10 April 1975	Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden	Duke of Jämtland (1946–1973) Prince of Sweden (1946–50) Crown Prince of Sweden (1950–73) King of Sweden (1973–present)	Sweden		First cousin of Margrethe II.
40	28 October 1991	Harald V of Norway	Prince of Norway (1937–57) Crown Prince of Norway (1957–91) King of Norway (1991–present)	Norway		Second cousin of Margrethe II.
41	27 January 1993	Princess Benedikte of Denmark	Princess of Denmark (1944–present) Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1968–2017) Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (2017–present)	Denmark		Sister of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of her 25th wedding anniversary.^[1]
42	1 January 2004	Frederik X of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1968–72) Crown Prince of Denmark (1972–2024) King of Denmark (2024-Present)	Denmark	United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark)	Son of Margrethe II. Appointed while Crown Prince (1972–2024).^[2]
43	16 April 2004	Prince Joachim of Denmark	Prince of Denmark (1969–present)	Denmark		Son of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of the Queen's 64th birthday.^[3]
Frederik X (2024–present)
44	26 May 2024	Queen Mary of Denmark	Crown Princess of Denmark (2004–2024) Queen consort of Denmark (2024-Present)	Denmark		Consort of Frederik X. Appointed in honour of the King's 56th birthday.^[4]

References

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^ "H.K.H. Prinsesse Benedikte--Danske dekorationer". Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Benedikte. Kongehuset (The Royal House of Denmark). 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. Storkommandør af Dannebrogordenen (S.Kmd.)Hjemmeværnets Fortjensttegn (Hjv.Ft.)
^ "H.K.H. Kronprinsen--Danske dekorationer". Hans Kongelige Højhed Kronprins Frederik. Kongehuset (The Royal House of Denmark). 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. Storkommandør (S.Kmd.)
^ "H.K.H. Prins Joachim--Danske dekorationer". Hans Kongelige Højhed Prins Joachim. Kongehuset (The Royal House of Denmark). 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. Storkommandør af Dannebrogordenen (S.Kmd.)
^ "H.M. Dronningen er tildelt Storkommandørkorset af Dannebrogordenen" [HM The Queen has been awarded the Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog]. Kongehuset (in Danish). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-26.

Grand commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog

References

See also