Work on Christian IX's Palace, or Schack’s Palace, was started by royal builder Nicolai Eigtved in 1750. The building work was supervised by architect C.J. Zuber and later by Philip de Lange. Faced by escalating financial obligations, Privy Councillor Severin Løvenskjold - who commissioned Schack´s Palace - had to give up in 1754 and the project was taken over by Countess Anne Sophie Schack and her step-grandson, Hans Schack. A fire shortly after the change of ownership delayed completion by a couple of years.
Hans Schack became Lord High Steward A.G. Moltke's son-in-law in 1757. Moltke enhanced the quality of the building by letting Schack use his best craftsmen to finish the interior. Due to the delays during the project, the interiors turned out more Louis XVI than the other three palaces on the same square.
After the Christiansborg Palace fire, the Danish royal family found itself temporarily homeless. In 1794, they bought Moltke's Palace for Christian VII and Schack's Palace for Crown Prince Frederik (VI) and had the architect C.F. Harsdorff refurbish them. Due to the lack of space, the intermediate buildings in Schack's Palace were raised by one storey.
Harsdorff's Colonnade
A link was established between the two palaces in the form of a "colonnade", a secret passage on first-floor level borne by 8 ionic columns, allowing traffic to continue along Amaliegade.
After standing in for his sick father since 1784, the Prince was crowned King Frederik VI in 1808. He died in 1839. After the death of his wife in 1852, the palace was used by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1863, the palace was placed at the disposal of Christian IX whose name it now bears. 'Europe's father-in-law' lived there until his death in 1906, after which it remained untouched until his estate was catalogued in 1948.
In 1967, the palace was beautifully renovated (supervised by Royal Inspector of Listed State Buildings Kornerup) for the successor to the throne, Princess Margrethe and her husband Prince Henrik. The royal couple still live in the palace.
Last updated:: Wednesday, March 03, 2010
