On January 14, 2024, H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated the throne on the day 52 years after her accession to the throne. Throughout her illustrious rule, H.M. the Queen has illuminated her reign with a vibrant palette of bright colours, showcasing her artistic talents in painting, scenography, book illustrations, and more. From her birth, Queen Margrethe was hailed as the ‘light in the dark’, a sentiment that resonates in the design of the emblem Kontrapunkt created for the Queen of Denmark’s 50th jubilee in 2022.

The Royal House and Wonderful Copenhagen assigned Kontrapunkt the official logo to communicate and mark the celebration for the 50th anniversary. The result was a redesigned crown with a colourful, celebratory logo.

Designing an emblem for the Queen of Denmark’s 50th jubilee was a tremendous honour and an exercise in design heritage. Inspired partly by Queen Margrethe’s personal surroundings and passion for art, the typography’s ornate form stems from the lavish style of the late Baroque period and the Acanthus leaf ornamentation of the time. Adorned by a bespoke illustration of the Royal Crown, the emblem’s typography is partly set at a 90-degree angle, giving it an abstract quality – a playful nod to Queen Margrethe’s creative spirit. Vivid, coloured versions of the emblem reflect Her Majesty’s passionate and cheerful outlook on life.

Redesigning a famous crown

Christian V of Denmark’s crown, from 1671, is found at the top of the logo of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Kontrapunkt redesigned the visual form of Christian V’s crown, making it more transparent and legible. The updated crown was flexible in sizing and usage in everything from small stationery to large-scale banners and flags. It was also applicable across all digital touchpoints. In other words, it was a crown fit for the 20th century.

A royal typeface

The typeface accompanying the crown is vibrant, drawing from details of the acanthus leaf and elegance from the rococo style found in the architecture at the Danish royal family residence, Amalienborg Palace and the Fredensborg Palace. It is almost a painted typeface with disciplined strokes, similar to lines created by a paintbrush – a respectful nod to the Queen’s art. You sense the craftmanship behind each form when diving into the details of the typeface. ‘M50’ is written in the middle of the logo, referring to the Queen and the 50-year jubilee. It connects the additional information underneath and the crown gently placed above.

The artist, the Queen

The logo needed to speak the design language of the Queen – a versatile artist in costume designs, scenography, illustrations and paintings. Her artwork and watercolours speak a colourful and organic language. Consequently, the logo embraces colours often seen in the Queen’s art and personal style.

Queen Margrethe II came to the throne in January 1972. Since her parents, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, only had daughters, the constitution was amended in 1953 to allow female succession – barring the absence of a male heir. On January 14, 2024, she abdicated the throne on the day 52 years after her accession, leaving it to her son, King Frederik X of Denmark.