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.
Since the time of Christian VIII, Danish monarchs have only used mottos in the Danish language.