The use of a royal motto (Danish: valgsprog) is an old tradition among Danish monarchs, dating back at least 500 years. The use of such a motto was a way for a monarch of Denmark to emphasize values or beliefs they held dear. In earlier times, these mottos were often shown on Danish coinage, often in a Latin form.
| Monarch | Reign | Royal motto (in Danish) | Latin or other version | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian I | 1448–1481 | Dyden viser vejen | Virtue leads the way | ||
| Hans (John) | 1481–1513 | For lov og flok | For law and herd | ||
| Christian II | 1513–1523 | Så var det beskikket | Thus it was ordained | ||
| Frederick I | 1523–1533 | Intet uden Gud | Nothing without God | ||
| Christian III | 1536–1559 | Ske Herrens vilje | Zu Gott mein Trost allein | The Lord's will be done | |
| Frederick II | 1559–1588 | Mit håb er Gud alene | Mein Hofnung zu Godt allein | My hope is God alone | |
| Christian IV | 1588–1648 | Fromhed styrker rigerne | Piety strengthens the realms[1] | ||
| Frederick III | 1648–1670 | Herren være mit forsyn | The Lord will be my guide | ||
| Christian V | 1670–1699 | Med fromhed og retfærdighed | With piety and justice | ||
| Frederick IV | 1699–1730 | Herren være min hjælper | The Lord be my helper | ||
| Christian VI | 1730–1746 | For Gud og folket | For God and the people | ||
| Frederick V | 1746–1766 | Med klogskab og standhaftighed | By prudence and steadfastness | ||
| Christian VII | 1766–1808 | Fædrelandets kærlighed er min berømmelse | The love of the fatherland is my reward | ||
| Frederick VI | 1808–1839 | Gud og den retfærdige sag | God and the just cause |
Since the time of Christian VIII, Danish monarchs have only used mottos in the Danish language.
| Monarch | Reign | Royal motto (in Danish) | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian VIII | 1839–1848 | Gud og fædrelandet | God and the fatherland | |
| Frederick VII | 1848–1863 | Folkets kærlighed, min styrke | The people's love, my strength | |
| Christian IX | 1863–1906 | Med Gud for ære og ret | With God for honour and justice | |
| Frederick VIII | 1906–1912 | Herren er min hjælper | The Lord is my helper | |
| Christian X | 1912–1947 | Min Gud, mit land, min ære | My God, my country, my honour | |
| Frederick IX | 1947–1972 | Med Gud for Danmark | With God for Denmark | |
| Margrethe II | 1972–2024 | Guds hjælp, folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke | God's help, the people's love, Denmark's strength | |
| Frederik X | Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark | United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark |