Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 345 by Andy Warhol is a 1985 screenprint from the artist’s celebrated Reigning Queens series. The portrait depicts Queen Margrethe in profile against a vivid pink background, her elegant figure rendered in striking Pop Art hues. Her hair glows in deep violet tones, offset by a jeweled tiara that sparkles above her head. Warhol highlights her pearl necklace, sapphire brooch, and emerald dress with blocks of bright turquoise and red. This balance creates an interplay between regal grace and modern abstraction. The Queen’s calm expression and poised demeanor balance the bold color palette, embodying both majesty and warmth.
Queen Margrethe II is Denmark’s reigning monarch, having ascended the throne in 1972. Known for her linguistic skill, artistic sensibility, and long-standing devotion to cultural life, she remains one of Europe’s most respected royal figures. Her reign has blended tradition with modernity, and she has long championed art, design, and history—making her a fitting subject for Warhol’s exploration of contemporary royalty.
Queen Margrethe II in Warhol’s Reigning Queens Series
The Reigning Queens series includes sixteen portraits of ruling queens from around the world at the time of publication. Alongside Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Warhol depicted Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Warhol portrayed these women not as consorts or symbols of dynastic power but as independent rulers, capturing their individuality through bold color and design.
In Queen Margrethe II 345, Warhol used vibrant pinks and greens instead of the deep reds and oranges he often applied to male political figures like Richard Nixon, Mao Zedong, Jimmy Carter, and Vladimir Lenin. By softening the color scheme, Warhol emphasized femininity and poise while retaining the same formal power and presence he granted his male subjects.
In Reigning Queens, Warhol celebrated his subjects’ mystique and femininity, exploring their public personas through the lens of Pop Art. Later, he reimagined these images in Reigning Queens (Royal Edition). The addition of diamond dust to the prints heightened their sense of glamour and status. The sparkling texture underscores the opulence of monarchy and transforms these portraits into icons of both art and power.
Interestingly, Warhol initially wanted the Reigning Queens series to be shown only in Europe. When his publisher, George Mulder, exhibited the portfolio in the United States, Warhol expressed his anger in his diary: “I had my opening at Leo Castelli’s to go to, of the Reigning Queens portfolio that I just hate George Mulder for showing here in America. They were supposed to be only for Europe—nobody here cares about royalty and it’ll be another bad review.” (Diary entry, 1985.)
Queen Margrethe II 345 in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Although Warhol’s subjects were royal, he approached them as he did celebrities—figures defined by image, repetition, and mass recognition. Compared to other portraits of Queen Margrethe, Queen Margrethe II 345 bursts with color and texture. Consequently, it aligns perfectly with Warhol’s signature Pop Art style. The artwork’s geometric color patches introduce an element of collage, recalling his Mick Jagger Portfolio. These abstract shapes draw attention to the Queen’s jewelry, especially her ornate necklace and crown, symbols of authority and elegance.
Warhol intentionally used clashing colors and asymmetrical composition to create visual tension. The Queen’s hair nearly merges with the pink background, while the radiant crown captures the viewer’s attention. This emphasis on the crown, rather than the figure, reinforces her identity as a true monarch rather than a celebrity. It distinguishes her from Warhol’s Hollywood icons, underscoring the enduring symbolism of royal power.
Queen Margrethe II 345 stands as a testament to Warhol’s ability to merge reverence and irony, blending European tradition with American Pop sensibility. Through vibrant color and meticulous composition, he transforms monarchy into media—both timeless and instantly recognizable.
Photo Credits:
- The first official photograph of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark after her ascension to the throne in 1972. Courtesy of the Hulton and Getty Archives.
- Andy Warhol signing an offset lithograph for the promotion of the print of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Photographer unknown.
