The New Danish Royal Family Portrait Is Super Creepy

Prince Christian, the second heir to the throne, stands at the painting’s center. Queen Margrethe II and her husband Henrik, the Prince Consort are seated on the couch. Princess Isabella is seated to the queen’s left. Above her, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary hold their twin son and daughter, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are on the right side of the couch — Princess Marie is holding their daughter Princess Athena. Their son, Prince Henrik, crawls behind Prince Christian, while Crown Prince Joachim’s two sons from a previous marriage, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix build a tower of blocks together. Thomas Kluges / Danish Royal Family / Via kongehuset.dk

The new portrait of the Danish Royal Family is a little… dark. 

The painting by artist Thomas Kluge was unveiled over the weekend as part of an exhibition of royal portraits.

We’re not saying “All Hail the Satanic overlords,” but we’re also not not saying that.

The painting, according to the description on the Danish Royal Collection webpage, took four years to complete:

In Kluge’s painting the royal couple is depicted in a gilt rococo settee surrounded by their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, all in everyday clothing. The present and future monarchs, H.M. The Queen, T.R.H. The Crown Prince and Prince Christian, all make eye contact with us, while their family members are portrayed in their own universe, unprovoked by the gaze of the spectator. The children are at play with the exception of the upright and severe Prince Christian who seems aware of his future responsibilities.

The new group portrait was made to reference a famous painting of the 1880s, which depicted the Danish royal family and their international family. The depicted monarchs, Christian IX and Queen Louise, were called “the in-laws of Europe” in their time.

                          Danish Royal Collections