Copenhagen's historic Bourse was devastated by a fire on Queen Margrethe's 84th birthday, leading to the collapse of the Dragon Tower and damage to the spire and artworks.

The fire raged for over 24 hours, destroying half of the building and causing a section of the roof to collapse.

Efforts to salvage the building's contents saw first responders and civilians, including the Danish Chamber of Commerce, rescue key pieces like a 13-foot painting by Peder Severin Kroyer.

The destruction of the Bourse is a blow to Denmark's business legacy and cultural heritage, eliciting expressions of sorrow from the Prime Minister and King Frederik X.

An investigation into the fire's cause has commenced, with expectations that rebuilding could take a decade and the determination of the fire's origin may take months.

Queen Margrethe marked her birthday privately amidst the crisis, while firefighting efforts are anticipated to continue for at least another day.