Ceremonial dinner held at Christiansborg Palace in Denmark to honor Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir

A grand ceremonial dinner was held at Christiansborg Palace in Denmark yesterday to honor Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir during her official visit. The hall was decorated festively, with seating arranged according to tradition.

An important aspect of the event was the sashes worn by the dignitaries, which signify various honors. Notably, President Halla received the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest honor, which dates back to the 15th century and was officially established in 1693. The sash is light blue and drapes over the left shoulder to fall on the right side, with the insignia pinned at the bottom.

Accompanying Halla, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir and the president’s husband, Björn Skúlason, donned the sash of the Order of Dannebrog. This award, given to individuals who receive a Grand Cross, is worn starting from the right shoulder down to the left hip.

There are different widths for the sashes based on the recipient’s gender, with men wearing a ten-centimeter-wide sash and women wearing one that is six centimeters wide.

Danish King Frederik X, who was honored with the Order of the Falcon, wore a wider sash than Queen Mary, as he holds the highest degree of this honor, alongside his Grand Cross. It is an unusual occasion for a king to be granted such distinctions; the king currently holds numerous honors, including the Order of the Elephant and the Order of Dannebrog, among others.