List of grand commanders of the Order of Dannebrog

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

NrDateImageNameTitleCountryMottoNotes
Frederik VI (1768–1839), the founder
128 June 1808
Frederik VI of DenmarkKing of Denmark (1808–39)
King of Norway (1808–14)
 Denmark
 Norway
God and the just cause (Danish: Gud og den retfærdige sag)
214 December 1808
Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-AugustenborgGovernor-General of Norway (1809–10)
Crown Prince of Sweden (1810)
 Denmark
 Norway
 Sweden
316 December 1813
Prince Frederik of Hesse-CasselGovernor-General of Norway (1809–10)  Denmark
 Hesse
Brother-in-law and first cousin of Frederik VI
410 September 1817
Prince Carl of Hesse-KasselGovernor-General of Norway (1766–68)
Governor of Schleswig-Holstein (1769–1836)
 Denmark
 Hesse
Father-in-law of Frederik VI
528 October 1828
Christian VIII of DenmarkPrince 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)
628 January 1840
Marie, Dowager Queen of DenmarkPrincess 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.
710 June 1841
Frederik VII of DenmarkCrown Prince of Denmark (1808–48)
King of Denmark (1848–63)
 DenmarkThe 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)
81 August 1854
Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1792–1848)
Heir Presumptive of Denmark (1848–63)
 DenmarkBrother of Christian VIII. Appointed while Heir Presumptive. Died four months before his nephew.
910 June 1860
Carl XV & IV of Sweden and NorwayDuke 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
1010 November 1860
Vilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-CasselPrince of Hesse-Cassel (1787–1837)
Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel (1937–67)
 HesseBrother-in-law of Christian VIII and father-in-law of Christian IX.
Christian IX (1863–1906)
1115 November 1863
Christian IX of DenmarkPrince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1825–53)
Prince of Denmark (1853–63)
King of Denmark (1863–1906)
 DenmarkWith 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.
1215 July 1865
Caroline Amalie, Dowager Queen of DenmarkPrincess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1796–1815)
Princess of Denmark (1815–39)
Queen consort of Denmark (1839–48)
Dowager Queen of Denmark (1848–81)
 DenmarkWidow of Christian VIII. Only awarded insignia.
1328 July 1869
Frederik VIII of DenmarkPrince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1843–53)
Prince of Denmark (1853–63)
Crown Prince of Denmark (1863–1906)
King of Denmark (1906–12)
 DenmarkThe 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.
1430 June 1871
George I of GreecePrince 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.
157 September 1883
Queen Louise of DenmarkPrincess 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.
169 November 1891
Alexander III of RussiaGrand Duke of Russia (1845–65)
Tsesarevich of Russia (1865–81)
Emperor of Russia (1881–94)
 RussiaSon-in-law of Christian IX. Appointed in honour of his and Dagmar of Denmark's 25th wedding anniversary.
1726 November 1894
Nicholas II of RussiaGrand Duke of Russia (1868–81)
Tsesarevich of Russia (1881–94)
Emperor of Russia (1894–1917)
 RussiaGrandson of Christian IX. Appointed when he succeeded to the Russian throne.
1821 July 1900
Prince Valdemar of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1858–1939)  DenmarkSon of Christian IX.
199 September 1901
Edward VII of the United KingdomDuke of Cornwall (1841–1901)
Prince of Wales (1841–1901)
King of the United Kingdom (1901–11)
 United KingdomSon-in-law of Christian IX.
Christian X (1912–47)
2014 May 1912
Christian X of DenmarkPrince 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.
2114 May 1912
Haakon VII of NorwayPrince of Denmark (1872–1905)
King of Norway (1905–57)
 Denmark
 Norway
Brother of Christian X.
2228 March 1913
Constantine I of GreecePrince 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.
2318 April 1913
George V of the United KingdomPrince 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 KingdomFirst cousin of Christian X.
2410 July 1920
Prince George of Greece and DenmarkPrince of Greece and Denmark (1869–1957)
High Commissioner of Crete (1898–1906)
 Greece
 Denmark
First cousin of Christian X.
253 February 1936
Frederik IX of DenmarkPrince 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).
2615 May 1937
Knud, Hereditary Prince of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1900–53)
Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1953–76)
 DenmarkSon of Christian X.
271945
Gustaf V of SwedenDuke 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)
 SwedenGrandfather of Christian X's daughter-in-law Ingrid of Sweden.
2826 March 1947
Prince Axel of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1888–1964)  DenmarkFirst cousin of Christian X.
Frederik IX (1947–72)
2926 May 1948
Alexandrine, Dowager Queen of DenmarkDuchess 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.
308 May 1951
George VI of the United KingdomPrince of the United Kingdom (1895–1936)
Duke of York (1920–36)
King of the United Kingdom (1936–52)
 United KingdomSecond cousin of Frederik IX.
3124 March 1952
Gustaf VI Adolf of SwedenDuke 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)
 SwedenFather-in-law of Frederik IX.
3211 September 1958
Olav V of NorwayPrince of Denmark (1903–05)
Crown Prince of Norway (1905–57)
King of Norway (1957–91)
 Norway
 Denmark
First cousin of Frederik IX.
3311 March 1959
Queen Ingrid of DenmarkPrincess 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.
3429 January 1963
Paul of GreecePrince 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.
3512 March 1964
Constantine II of GreecePrince 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.
361968
Prince Viggo, Count of RosenborgPrince of Denmark (1893–1924)
Count of Rosenborg (1924–70)
 DenmarkFirst cousin once removed of Frederik IX.
Margrethe II (1972–present)
3714 January 1972
Margrethe II of DenmarkPrincess of Denmark (1940–53)
Princess of Iceland (1940–44)
Heiress Presumptive of Denmark (1953–72)
Queen of Denmark (1972–present)
 DenmarkGod'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.
3816 April 1973
Prince Henrik of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1967–72)
Prince consort of Denmark (1972–2018)
 DenmarkPrince consort of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of her 33rd birthday.
3910 April 1975
Carl XVI Gustaf of SwedenDuke of Jämtland (1946–1973)
Prince of Sweden (1946–50)
Crown Prince of Sweden (1950–73)
King of Sweden (1973–present)
 SwedenFirst cousin of Margrethe II.
4028 October 1991
Harald V of NorwayPrince of Norway (1937–57)
Crown Prince of Norway (1957–91)
King of Norway (1991–present)
 NorwaySecond cousin of Margrethe II.
4127 January 1993
Princess Benedikte of DenmarkPrincess of Denmark (1944–present)
Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1968–2017)
Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (2017–present)
 DenmarkSister of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of her 25th wedding anniversary.[1]
421 January 2004
Frederik X of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1968–72)
Crown Prince of Denmark (1972–2024)
King of Denmark (2024-Present)
 DenmarkUnited, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark)Son of Margrethe II. Appointed while Crown Prince (1972–2024).[2]
4316 April 2004
Prince Joachim of DenmarkPrince of Denmark (1969–present)  DenmarkSon of Margrethe II. Appointed in honour of the Queen's 64th birthday.[3]
Frederik X (2024–present)
4426 May 2024
Queen Mary of DenmarkCrown Princess of Denmark (2004–2024)
Queen consort of Denmark (2024-Present)
 DenmarkConsort of Frederik X. Appointed in honour of the King's 56th birthday.[4]

References

See also