King Frederik
King Frederik X of Denmark and his wife Queen Mary have put on a united front as they arrived in Sweden today for their first state visit since ascending to the Danish throne.
Despite rumours the couple is dealing with marital struggles, the royals were all smiles when welcomed by King Carl XVI Gustaf and German-Brazilian-born Queen Silvia in Stockholm on Monday.
Australian-born Mary, 52, was the epitome of elegance in a white Mark Kenly Domino Tan dress, royal blue shawl and navy Jane Taylor London headpiece, while her beaming husband looked handsome in his military uniform.
Frederik, 55, was proclaimed king on January 14 after his 83-year-old mother, Queen Margrethe II, who was Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, abdicated.
Her shock abdication came amid rumours of tension between her eldest son and his wife. Speculation about the state of their marriage first began after photos emerged of Frederik enjoying an evening out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casnova in November last year.
King Frederik X of Denmark (pictured centre right) and his wife Queen Mary (pictured centre left) have put on a united front as they arrived in Sweden today for their first state visit since ascending to the Danish throne. Pictured left, Queen Silvia, and pictured right, King Carl Gustaf
But the royal couple – who recently appeared frosty with each other on a family skiing trip over Easter – seemed to be in great spirits as they began their first official visit abroad as new Danish monarchs.
In the Swedish capital, Frederik and Mary were first greeted by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, who boarded the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog.
They then took the gilded Swedish Royal Barge to shore and were welcomed there by King Carl Gustaf, Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch, and Queen Silvia.
Frederik and Mary then joined the rest of the Swedish royals at the Palace, including Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia.
Attending the reception for the Danish royal couple, heir to the Swedish throne Victoria, 46, looked radiant in a pink frock. Her daughter, Estelle, 12, matched her mother in a blush dress from Malina.
Prince Daniel, the husband of Victoria, and their son Oscar, eight, both donned smart suits, while Prince Carl Philip wore his military uniform.
Carl Philip’s wife Princess Sofia put on a stylish display, meanwhile, in a white Veronica Virta dress teamed with a matching headband and heels.
Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip, Queen Mary, King Frederik, King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Prince Oscar, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle and Prince Daniel pose for a photo ahead of the reception at the Royal Palace as part of the Danish royal couple’s state visit
Queen Mary, King Frederik, King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, pose for an official photograph ahead of the reception at the Palace
Attending the reception for the Danish royal couple, heir to the Swedish throne Victoria, 46, looked radiant in a pink frock. Her daughter, Estelle, 12, matched her mother in a blush dress from Malina
Carl Philip’s wife Princess Sofia put on a stylish display, meanwhile, in a white Veronica Virta dress teamed with a matching headband and heels
Mary looked elegant in a white Mark Kenly Domino Tan dress, royal blue shawl and navy Jane Taylor London headpiece
Relations between the two royal houses are close. Frederik’s grandmother, Queen Ingrid, who died in 2000, was a Swedish princess.
The May 6-7 visit includes meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kirstersson and the speaker of the Swedish Parliament. A visit to a military facility is also scheduled.
Danish government members also accompanied the royals, among them Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Danish monarchs, whose roles are ceremonial, traditionally travel to other Scandinavian countries first. Although Frederik had a solo visit to Poland in January, it was planned before his mother’s surprise New Year’s Eve abdication.
Later this month, Frederik and Mary will travel to Oslo, where they will be greeted by King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
Frederik’s mother was the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years, causing the Nordic nation to experience its first royal succession in more than a half century.
Denmark’s monarchy traces its origins to 10th century Viking king Gorm the Old, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world.
The royal couple’s visit comes after Frederik said that having his wife by his side was the ‘highlight’ of his ‘overwhelming’ ceremony marking his accession to the throne.
Despite rumours the couple is dealing with marital struggles, the royals were all smiles when welcomed by King Carl XVI Gustaf and German-Brazilian-born Queen Silvia in Stockholm on Monday
Australian-born Mary (pictured left), 52, was the epitome of elegance in a white dress and royal blue shawl, while her beaming husband looked handsome in his military uniform
Frederik (pictured right), 55, was proclaimed king on January 14 after his 83-year-old mother, Queen Margrethe II, who was Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, abdicated
Queen Margrethe II’s shock abdication came amid rumours of tension between her eldest son and his wife. Pictured, Queen Silvia, Queen Mary, King Frederik and King Carl Gustaf
Queen Mary, King Frederik X, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden
Princess Victoria of Sweden’s children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar at the welcome ceremony for the Danish King and Queen
Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip, Queen Mary, King Frederik X, and King Carl XVI Gustaf pose for a photograph in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden
Speaking to Danish broadcaster, TV2, aboard their royal yacht Kongeskibet Dannebrog, the couple avoided questions about their relationship and instead doubled down on the strength of their marriage.
Frederik praised Mary for helping him get through the historic day, saying: ‘It was very overwhelming and moving. I felt extremely well received.
‘The highlight was when Mary and the children came out and stood right behind me and I had the Danes standing in front of me and waving. It was one of the most amazing things to experience in my life.’
Queen Mary was just as complimentary to her husband, saying the moment ‘moved her so much.’
She said: ‘I stood with the children and when you stepped out onto the balcony towards your fate, it was a moment that moved me incredibly much.
‘We could hear and feel it, even if we couldn’t see it. It was a beautiful moment. I was both very happy and very proud.’
Unlike the British Royal Family, Frederik’s new reign was announced at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen and he did not have a coronation service after his mother Queen Margrethe stepped down.
The shock abdication came a month after Frederik was pictured with Geneva Casnova, the former daughter-in-law of the billionaire Duchess of Alba.
Speculation about the state of Mary and Frederik’s (pictured with Carl Gustaf and Silvia) marriage first began after photos emerged of Frederik enjoying an evening out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casnova in November last year
In the Swedish capital, Frederik and Mary (pictured left, meeting the Swedish King and Queen) were first greeted by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, who boarded the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog
They then took the gilded Swedish Royal Barge to shore and were welcomed there by King Carl Gustaf, Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch, and Queen Silvia (pictured right)
King Frederik X, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Mary and Queen Silvia in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
The pair were seen walking through Madrid before heading to her apartment building, changing clothes and heading out again for the evening.
The publication of the photos resulted in Genoveva, 47, issuing a statement denying any kind of romantic relationship between herself and the royal and slamming the ‘malicious’ rumours.
In the months that have followed Frederik’s ascending to the throne, Mary has seemingly fuelled speculation by completing a series of solo royal engagements without her husband.
Despite this, the couple, who share four children, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, say protecting the tradition of the monarchy was important to them.
They told the Danish outlet: ‘We want to be a royal couple who are visible and present throughout Denmark.’
Mary also spoke to the media about their yacht, Kongeskibet Dannebrog, which has been in commission since 1932.
She looked back on the family holidays that took place there and said: ‘The children, crew and us – not so high for me – jump from the highest point on the ship into the deep blue water.’
Frederik, meanwhile, added about the state visits: ‘We feel at home in Scandinavia. We are not only colleagues, but also family. Our cohorts have become friends. We have a fantastic dialogue and a relaxed relationship when we meet.’
King Frederick X and Queen Mary of Denmark arrive by boat with the Vasa Order to Skeppsbron in Stockholm
Denmark’s King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria, and Prince Daniel on board the Royal Barge at Skeppsbron in Stockholm
Last week, the royal couple beamed as they set off on the tour, which will see them visit the Faroe Islands and Greenland in June and July – and showed they would not be cowed by accusations they photoshopped their first royal portrait since becoming king and queen.
Royal fans suggested the Palace had digitally altered the regal photo of the couple weeks after the British royals were caught up in a similar controversy over the Princess of Wales‘s Mother’s Day photo.
Mary and Frederik’s official picture was released last month and featured the Australian-born queen standing alongside the king.
The mother-of-four wore a deep green velvet and lace gown along with the crown’s ‘most complete’ heirloom jewel set featuring matching emeralds.
Many praised the photo’s ‘beauty’ but also questioned whether it had been manipulated, with some claiming the couple ‘obviously’ took their single portraits and had photoshopped them together.
‘Beautiful photo, but another digitally enhanced royal photo,’ one woman commented on the picture – receiving multiple ‘likes’.
‘Was this photoshopped? I mean it looks like they were photographed separately then put together? Mary looks exquisite and Frederik, well the king looks like he just rolled out of bed,’ wrote one woman.
‘Terrible translation. So stiff and awkward. AI,’ another questioned. Others pointed out the placement of Queen Mary’s hand in front of King Frederik’s, claiming it looks out of place.
‘It looks like Queen Mary has been put into the photo of Fred. The hand position is identical,’ said one fan.
The palace confirmed the picture is real and says ‘the Royal House’s official gala portrait has not been manipulated’.
