Queer Places:
Yellow Palace, Amaliegade, 1256 København, Denmark
Bernstorff Palace, Jægersborg Alle 93, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark

Prince Valdemar of Denmark (October 27, 1858 – January 14, 1939) was born on October 27, 1858, at the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen, as the youngest child and fifth son of King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Louise of Hesse-Kassel. As a member of the House of Glücksburg, he belonged to one of the most prominent royal families in Europe, making him the brother of King Frederick VIII of Denmark, King George I of Greece, Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, and Empress Maria Feodora of Russia.

Choosing a career in the military, Valdemar dedicated his life primarily to the sea, entering the Danish Royal Navy and rising through the ranks to ultimately become an Admiral of the Fleet. Unlike several of his brothers, he showed little ambition for foreign thrones, turning down opportunities such as the crown of Bulgaria. Throughout his life, he resided principally at the Bernstorff Palace near Copenhagen, which became a central gathering place for his extended family.

In 1885, Valdemar married Princess Marie of Orléans in a dynastic union. The couple had five children: Princes Aage, Axel, Erik, Viggo, and Princess Margrethe. Despite fulfilling his dynastic obligations through marriage and fatherhood, Valdemar's personal life and private affections were deeply anchored elsewhere.

Valdemar is a significant figure in modern LGBTQ European royal history due to his lifelong, intimate relationship with his nephew, Prince George of Greece and Denmark. In 1883, the teenage George was sent from Greece to Denmark to embark on a naval career and was placed under the direct mentorship and care of Valdemar. Overwhelmed by a sense of abandonment upon parting from his parents, George found profound comfort when Valdemar took his hand—a moment George later described as a revelation that defined his entire emotional life.

What began as a familial mentorship quickly blossomed into an intense, lifelong romantic bond. Valdemar and George maintained their passionate relationship for decades, living together for extended periods at Bernstorff Palace and vacationing together. Their connection persisted unchanged through their respective later lives, marriages, and international political duties. Even when George married Princess Marie Bonaparte in 1907, the deep intimacy between uncle and nephew remained uninterrupted, with Valdemar even accompanying the newlyweds on parts of their journey. Within the family, this unique bond was treated with a remarkable degree of normalization and acceptance, and the two men were frequently photographed together without hesitation.

Prince Valdemar passed away on January 14, 1939, at Bernstorff Palace at the age of 80, outliving most of his generation of European royals. The profound depth of their lifelong connection was immortalized when Prince George died years later in 1957; George's final resting place at the Tatoi Royal Cemetery included not only Greek and Danish flags, but also a lock of Prince Valdemar's hair, a photograph of Valdemar, and a handful of earth brought from the Bernstorff estate.

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