DEC 4

Colombia

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Most people know Amalienborg as the residence of the Danish royal family—right in the heart of Copenhagen, where the daily changing of the guard draws crowds to the palace square. But fewer realize that the four palaces surrounding the octagonal courtyard were originally built for noble families in the 1750s. It wasn’t until the fire at Christiansborg in 1794 that the royals moved in.

Since then, Amalienborg has stood as a living symbol of continuity and Danish history. Each palace holds stories of duty and daily life, celebrations and traditions—all unfolding in the very center of the city. When the sun strikes the old façades and the guards march across the cobblestones, it feels as though past and present walk side by side.

Here’s one of the funniest and most beloved stories about Amalienborg—a moment when the royal family, quite unintentionally, came charmingly down to earth.

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Today’s Anecdote

The Day Queen Margrethe Got
Locked Out in Her Bathrobe

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One early spring morning in the 1980s, Queen Margrethe woke up in her Amalienborg apartment, ready for a quiet start to the day with coffee and newspapers. Dressed in her bathrobe, with what could best be described as royally disheveled hair, she stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air.

But like so many Danes know all too well, balcony doors have a devilish trick: they slam shut. And this one did.

Suddenly, the Queen—head of state, regent, artist, and national icon—found herself locked out on her own balcony. In a bathrobe. Barefoot. Without a key. And with no guards in sight, since they were loyally posted down in the square, staring straight ahead in their bearskin hats, completely unaware that their monarch had a… predicament.

After trying unsuccessfully to open the door, the Queen began to wave discreetly at the people in the square below. The spectators waved back politely, delighted at what they assumed was a royal greeting.

Only when she resorted to banging on the glass with a flowerpot and shouting “HALLØJ!” (roughly “Hey there!”—and reportedly with clear irritation) did someone inside the palace finally notice and let her back in.

Of course, the incident never appeared in the official royal press releases, but over the years palace staff and even a courtier or two have retold the story with a twinkle in their eye.

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When asked about the episode many years later—according to rumour, at a private dinner—the Queen is said to have replied dryly: “Yes, that was the first and last time I aired myself without the Lord Chamberlain.”

The anecdote has lived on in royal circles as a favourite because it shows something deeply human behind the pomp and ceremony: that even a queen can end up stuck on her balcony in a bathrobe, knocking on the window because the door slammed shut. And perhaps that’s exactly why Danes love her all the more.

MORE ABOUT THE COFFEE

Colombia

Origin

Racafe

coffee roast

Taste Notes

apple, caramelised,

chocolate, lemon,

orange, sweet

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Once the largest producer of washed coffees, Colombia has continually reinvented its coffee tradition, planting resilient varieties like Colombia and Castillo after rust outbreaks in 2009 to safeguard both quality and livelihoods.
Each cherry is hand-picked, sorted, fermented, and carefully dried, ensuring consistency and clarity in the cup. The Excelso grade, with beans sized 15–16, balances approachability and refinement
In the cup, expect a bright, lively profile—often with citrus hint, and chocolatey sweetness—the hallmarks of Colombian coffee that make it both comforting and distinctly vibrant.

Altitude: 1100+ m.a.s.l.

Variety: Coffea Arabica, Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica

Process: Washed