From 28 to 29 October, His Majesty King Frederik X and Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark paid a state visit to Latvia at the invitation of the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs. The visit formed part of the Danish royal couple’s tour of the Baltic States and underscored the long-standing partnership between Denmark and Latvia in the areas of defence, culture, democracy and regional cooperation.
The official welcoming ceremony at Riga Castle highlighted the enduring friendship and shared commitment of both nations within NATO and the European Union. President Rinkēvičs expressed deep appreciation for Denmark’s consistent support to Latvia throughout history, noting that Denmark remains a trusted ally in promoting security, stability and democratic values.
During the visit, the King and Queen laid flowers at the Freedom Monument, visited the Saeima, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the Latvian Academy of Culture, as well as Ādaži Gymnasium and the Ādaži Military Base, where they met with NATO soldiers. The visit highlighted Denmark’s vital contribution to the Multinational Division North Headquarters and its leadership in strengthening Latvia’s defence capacity through the deployment of Danish troops.
The visit concluded with a reception at the Latvian National Museum of Art, where the royal couple met Ms Nina Hvid Enevoldsen, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia and Danish diplomat. In her audience with Her Majesty Queen Mary, they discussed the prevention of violence against women and children and its challenges in Latvia, as well as the role of democracy festivals in fostering civic participation and the linguistic integration of Russian-speaking minorities in Latvia.
The state visit reaffirmed the close and trust-based relationship between Latvia and Denmark, founded on shared values of freedom, democracy and solidarity, and gave new momentum to Nordic-Baltic cooperation for a secure and united future.
Photo: Oskars Kupics
