In the run up to Christmas, a key event in the city is the turning on of the light display across the front of the Hotel d' Angleterre on Kongens Nytorv. Over the years, the displays have been elaborate, often with a central tableau with giant figures from tales by Hans Christian Andersen.

When the lights are turned on for the first time, it is quite an occasion for families who, after the lights come on, can go to a Christmas market set out around the west and north side of the square as a link from the end of Strøget - The Walking Street - across the front of the hotel and on round to the end of Nyhavn where more stalls selling food and gifts and decorations continue down the quay on the north side of the harbour.

But not this year.

With the threat of infection with Coronavirus if there were to be large, tightly packed crowds, the Christmas fair has been cancelled and the lights have been toned down and with no big evening for switching on.

There are Christmas lights across the department store - Magasin du Nord - and on the front of the theatre but it will be a quieter, rather more muted Christmas in Copenhagen this year.