Here are some photos from Denmark, where the Danish royals attended their annual New Year’s Eve dinner in Copenhagen. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary returned to Denmark just before Christmas, after spending a few weeks in Australia with Mary’s friends and family. My point is that they were back in Denmark for a full week before Queen Margrethe announced her abdication in a NYE speech. Who knows what influenced the queen’s decision, but she seemed to be getting her house in order for much of the past year and a half. That being said, almost everyone is focused on the timing, specifically the detailed reporting throughout the fall about Frederik’s alleged affair with Genoveva Casanova in Spain. The British “royal experts” are pretty convinced that Margrethe is abdicating to save her son’s marriage.
Prince Frederik was photographed by Lecturas, a Spanish magazine, strolling around Madrid with Genoveva Casanova in November, visiting a Picasso exhibition and reportedly sharing an intimate dinner. The magazine published photographs that it said showed the Crown Prince leaving Ms Casanova’s apartment the morning after the alleged dinner date. The Danish royals have not commented on the reports.
The unexpected abdication of the queen could be a deliberate tactic to propel her son into the role of king and to put his marriage to Crown Princess Mary on a new footing, royal experts said.
“It’s possible that the Queen took this action because she would have been terrified of the marriage breaking up and the royal family losing Mary. It would have caused major problems. The Queen has always seen Mary as a tremendous asset,” said Phil Dampier, an author and commentator who has reported on the Danish royals for more than 20 years.
“It just seems an extraordinary coincidence that she should make this unexpected announcement just a couple of months after stories emerged of the Crown Prince supposedly having an affair. In two weeks’ time, the Prince and Princess will be pitched together as King and Queen and they will have to get on with it. The Queen may be thinking that they will patch up their differences and it will save their marriage.”
The abdication of Queen Margrethe, who was Europe’s longest-serving monarch after coming to the throne on the death of her father King Frederick IX in 1972, was entirely unexpected. In the past she had indicated that, like Elizabeth II, she regarded the role as a job for life. As recently as 2016, she had rejected the possibility of abdication. “It’s always been: you stay as long as you live. That’s what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too,” she said.
Many Danes had expected her to remain monarch until her death. “It came completely out of the blue. I think a lot of Danes are quite shocked by it,” said Mr Dampier. “The Queen seemed to be in reasonable health. She suffered from back pain but had recently had an operation so you would think that would enable her to carry on in the role. It seems strange that it happened so soon after the rumours of an affair. The prince was known as a playboy in his youth – maybe she worried that he was going back to his old ways.”
All of this really makes me wonder what has been going down between Fred and Mary in recent months – Mary took the kids out of school early so they could travel to Australia, Mary was photographed looking sad and alone in Oz, Fred traveled to Oz separately. Did Mary threaten to divorce him? Did they come back to Denmark before Christmas convinced that this would be their final holiday together? And Margrethe was like “no, we can’t have that?”
In any case, Mary put her game face back on for the NYE dinner – she looked happy and ready to be queen consort. Maybe the abdication was just what their marriage needed.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Copenhagen, DENMARK – Danish Prince Frederik’s Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turns out for the annual New Year’s dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated ‘to put her wayward son on the throne and save his marriage. Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the entire Danish Royal family attended the annual New Year’s dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, Denmark. Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik BACKGRID USA 1 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
She doesn’t look happy, she looks trapped.
Mmm, Crown Princess Mary looks somewhat appeased, at least for now. Since a lot of Fred’s appeal for her, was his royal status, let’s not kid ourselves that she’s not salivating after finally having the ultimate crown placed on her head. She’s been ably working very, very hard for it for a very long time, eh! 👑 👸
Royal life is the NEW HOLLYWOOD, pretend, pretend, pretend 🤣🤣🤣
Agreed – there’s no happiness in the eyes in these photos.
As an aside did Mary get fillers in her cheeks? Something is off. Her face looks fuller but she is slimmer than ever in that dress unless she’s got some serious shapewear on under that gown.
hmm, I don’t think Mary is slimmer than ever, she’s put on a few pounds and it shows. I think she looks stunning, although I also think she looks strained and not really happy.
There appears to be a bit of sadness in her eyes. However, Mary looks impeccable as usual. She seems regal and stiff-upper-lipped. After all, Mary was always good at the job from Day 1. She hit the ground running right from the start.
@Jackiejacks
You know what they say: after a certain age, a woman has to decide between her face and her body. Will she keep her face young-looing, which means full (which is what gives it the youthful appearance); or will she ensure that her body stays slim, which usually means a gaunt-looking face?
That Mary appears to have achieved both, suggests some “serious shapewear” is doing a lot of hard work.
Mary has had work done since marrying, and a little bit before. She at least has good cosmetic surgery unlike someone else. But these fillers look over the top. A bit too chipmunk. Her work (mostly) is subtle enough that it looks fairly natural. She also appears to use extensions or hair pieces. But again, well done. Hair often thins as we age and she’s 52. Her hair looked thinner when travelling to Australia.
@Kingson: ‘Mary appears to have achieved both’ suggests that she gets fillers and botox. Both are apparent on her face, particularly her “pillow” cheeks at the NYE gala.
It’s awful for her, really. I hope she has good people around her and doesn’t go the Charlene route.
He doesn’t look happy, either. His eyes look almost like he was crying earlier.
Tbh, most women look strained these days; regardless of whether they’re housewives, professionals or workers. Let’s not pretend the world is in a rosy state, or that women climbing up any career ladder don’t put up with a lot of BS, including alleged cheating by spouse. (Without the royal lifestyle perks). Mary’s seeming decision of keeping on with her marriage is as empowered as staying on a 9-to-9 job to become partner on a PR firm.
Poor Mary.
Unlike Kate who was always careful and William wary, although they have come closer as Kate proves herself kinder than awful Meghan/ But was obviously madly in love with Frederik.
Look at them when young. Totally in love. Frederik and Mary always so real because really married for love, not for cash or fame.
She must be really hurt. To the core. Thats what hurts.
That velvet dress is so gorgeous it made me gasp.
Agreed! And fits the occasion perfectly too
It’s fabulous!! She looks gorgeous!!
It’s almost got medieval vibes.
I thought the same! Gorgeous dress. They both look a bit not like they normally do – if that makes sense.
The clutch is where my eye is – anyone have an ID on that clutch she is carrying?
@Seraphina, Royal Fashion Police on IG says the clutch is by J. Furmani.
Yes it does have a medieval feel to it. Truly a spectacular dress and it is able to carry off the numerous royal accessories successfully.
Note to Princess Kate, simple luxury is better than embellished Jenny Peckham gowns when you want to wear the clashing sashes and brooches etc.
@Ginny, thank you!
I know the press is obsessed about Kate ‘recycling’ when she really doesn’t. But Mary has worn this dress many many times over the years – it was first worn as a maternity dress then she was pregnant with one of her elder children and she’s had it remade after.
What they call recycling is what normal people call wearing something. Of course, with normal people it isn’t many times over years; it’s many times over weeks or months.
Yes, it is absolutely gorgeous. The color, the fit. Add in that tiara. Wow!
Totally agree @lolalola it is gorgeous. She looks so regal in it. Whatever may be going on behind closed doors in that dress she conveys the Disney image of a queen.
It think anyone could ‘regal’ in that dress, jewels, professional hairdresser etc …
Agree: she’s totally GORGEOUS in it! BTW, marriages can have many seasons, and they can sometimes weather crises authentically. I hope they focus on all they have in common, all they have to lose in a divorce, and recommit to their marriage. Sometimes that’s all it takes! (Been married 43 years, and have weathered a tad!)
@Nikki
Agreed. We celebrated 45 in November and I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve weathered the storms. But that’s what committed (or in our case super stubborn 😆) couples do.
We have learned (the hard way) to communicate, fix what we can, let what we can’t fall off the map and laugh at and with each other.
I wish them well, hope they do what they need to do and wish the Queen good health and relaxation going forward.
Also as an aside: do y’all think his brother and family will be coming back to stay?
Happy New Year fellow celebitchies! May 2024 be good to us all
It is a gorgeous dress – and Mary clearly thinks so too. She has worn it quite often.
This would almost be a case in which getting similar styles in multiple colors would make sense. Although I like it so much, I’m not sure I could imagine it in another color.
I would have it in all the jewel tones. Match the sapphires, the emeralds, the amethysts, . . .
What a stunning dress! Absolutely gorgeous!
I am definitely not cut out for the life of a Royal wife to a cheating husband. I don’t condone cheating. I could never or would never forgive and I definitely wouldn’t or couldn’t put it aside to be queen. I am worth more than that . Royal or peasant . No to cheating spouses
Yeah, it’s insane to me. The impact on your kids between a) feeling guilt that the cheated on parent stayed “for you” despite their own unhappiness, and b) in this family, we value the appearance of happiness more than your feelings of happiness. Awful.
We don’t know that there is any cheating going on. There are some people who aren’t pressed about what their spouse does with their genitals because they have shared agreements between the two of them that are about more than that small part of a relationship.
Mary and Kate are same , they wont leave no matter what. Only thing mary got upset because her fairy tale romances she used to sell for magazine , got blow up in her face. She got public humiliation and no matter what people wont respect these woman no more. Its 2024 nobody is holding hostage and you choose to stay for money and status. Her game is laid bare to the world.
So Frederik cost Mary the respect of the public? I.e. a man cheats and a woman must take the fall? Another take might be, a woman was betrayed (assuming she did not consent to an open relationsship), trust her to deal with that crisis in a manner she finds fitting. Mary invested her entire life into the Danish royal family, she worked very hard from the beginning and holds the respect of the Danish public for exactly that. Her husband cheats and so she has to give up what she worked so hard for for 20 years? I think that’s her choice. Take your thinly veiled mysogyny and stuff it, love.
Word to everything you worte.
Wow, whitewashing of mary is quite something. Mary was side chick and fred cheated on his girlfriend with mary . Then she was promoted to wife. Also mary was the one said she will never put up with cheating. You should look at facts and see for yourself before accusing anyone of misogyny. Mary doesn’t even respect herself when she went out for other royals and only drunk Fred slept with her. She broke the girl code, not go after other woman men. She doesn’t get any respect.
Oh my goodness, thank you Godiva. Why is everyone condemning Mary? Why should she give up her life because her husband allegedly cheated? Everyone compromises in relationships and those who say they don’t are either liars or lonely. Just because you and/or I wouldn’t stay doesn’t mean Mary has to leave. More power to her, hopefully Mary gets what she wants from the situation.
Mary would still face misogyny is she divorces. The public will paint her the villain for damaging the reputation of the sovereign by leaving. Mary’s in a Catch 22. All her public service would mean nothing.
Agree GODIVA. Comments like Water’s expose more about the writer than about the subject. 😭
Ditto to the nth degree.
She deserves to be queen. She also holds her own power. Mary is loved more than Frederick. If he messes up again, it can cost him his throne. Their son is old enough to take over and Frederick knows this.
They are not remotely the same.
Also – we don’t dislike Kate for staying married to William. We dislike her because she’s in a unique and incredible position to create immense positive change for so many people and she can’t be bothered to even show up on time.
Mary is hard working and has a number of passion projects and areas on which she does a tremendous amount of excellent work.
Kate does not. Kate doesn’t care about anyone but herself. She’s short sighted and cruel.
Are they the same because they both married princes? And apparently both princes cheat?
Again no. Kate is from England. But she does have the specter of her late mother in law that they offed to make her cautious about leaving.
Mary is from Australia. Do you think she can pick up the royal heirs and just move back home? That if she gets a divorce she will have nearly the same access and say regarding her children? No the answer is no.
MoxyLady, agree completely on every point.
Water, you’re tearing down women you don’t know at all and you’re arguing “girlcode”? Because it sounds a lot like yet another version of policing women’s sexuality, behaviour, virtue, etc. and I don’t think it’s doing anyone any favours. And what’s with the contempt, “side pieces”, “promoted to wife”, is this how you think of women? As objects for men to de- or promote? It’s so degrading.
Also, if you’re adhering to a girlcode, because you think that the reason to not let someone cheat with you is loyalty to a stranger, as opposed to simply not wanting to be with someone who would do that, you are kind of missing the point, I think
@ Godiva wtf are talking about? How im policing woman when Fred had girlfriend of many years and cheat with Mary. Mary was side chick, what this site often calls camilla, rose and countless woman? You are just excusing mary behavior. See I have no problem with woman are just in it for status and money. camila is good example and never lecture about cheating and loyalty. Mary does and thats why i said no woman is trapped in 2024. Mary stays for status and title, good for her. But you guys stop excusing she is there for children etc. That why i said she and kate are same eye on the prize and no matter how much they are humiliated they wont leave.
Mary didn’t wait a decade for a proposal and she also had to learn an entirely different language. Kate can barely give a short speech in English.
Also did Mary set up a smear campaign against her own sister in law which was based on a racist lie and then remained silent even though the sister in law was pregnant and suicidal?
There are pretty obvious reasons why Kate is disliked here and it isn’t because she hooked up with William when he was still with Carly. It’s the decades of being a shallow and vindictive person and using the media to attack your own family.
@Godiva: none of us personally know the royals. It doesn’t prevent us from forming an opinion based on information in the public domain. The fact that Fred allegedly cheated on Mary doesn’t make her flawless. We are talking about royalty, which by definition, has marginalised and objectified women for centuries and still does. No true feminist would marry into royalty.
@Water: agreed, 100%.
British tabloids have an incredibly narrow viewpoint and can only view events in the rest of the world through their own limited experience. Since W&K have a struggle marriage and W is demanding to be king NOW, they assume the same for everyone else.
Mary may be fine with the side pieces but angry about how carelessly and openly he was carrying on. Perhaps their marriage is rock solid and has no bearing on the Queen’s decisions about her own life and remaining years in this earth?
Come on now. Their marriage is NOT rock solid, when he was so casual and careless about seeing another woman, and getting caught red-handed. Even if Mary knew and was giving Fred a pass (prior to the humiliating public revelations), she surely had strict conditions attached, eh!
I don’t know. If you’re mad that your husband was flagrantly open with his side piece and you’re publicly humiliated, I’d say that you have a struggle marriage.
Pinkosaurus, I sort of agree with you. Mary’s viewpoint on her situation is probably not the same as Kate’s.
According to rumor (or has this been substantiated?), the DRF didn’t want to pay the Spanish tabloids to quash the pix and Fredrik cheating story. The Spanish tabloids and the British tabloids have a similar MO that is not how the Euro tabloids (can) function. So it’s interesting that, “ The British “royal experts” are pretty convinced that Margrethe is abdicating to save her son’s marriage.” I don’t believe that the DRF thinks that way. And the Danes seemed not as distressed by Frederik as the Brits would be by William. So is this a BM message to Peggington?
British royal “experts” know noting about about what happens in other royal families. They are just as insular as the tabloid press they work for. There were ZERO leaks about this abdication. Our jaws dropped when Daisy announced it on live TV New Year’s Eve.
Tak, ArtHistorian! This was fairly big news in the NLs on New Year’s Eve as well and they explained why it was so unexpected. Daisy picked the perfect moment and I hope she enjoys her retirement.
The MIL trying to save her son’s marriage with her DIL angle to this story is weird, misogynistic and ridiculous. There will be nothing stopping F&M from divorcing if they wish in a couple of weeks. This story makes 0 sense. When a woman who’s had health problems and is intelligent and well-spoken tells you why she’s retiring, believe her!
Since QE2’s funeral, there’s been distance between the BRF and DRF. Mary was disinvited from the funeral. QM2, in pain, was made to wait for a delayed bus after the funeral. Prince Christian did not have the future British royals at his 18th bday celebration. And then the BM, via the Spanish tabloids, have focused on Frederik’s visit to Madrid. Given that we know the close relationship between the BRF and the BM, I cannot see how there would be any communication about why QM2 abdicated. I think it’s pretty clear that the BM (and BRF) have little access to the Danes.
My thoughts exactly, Pinkosaurus. I was surprised to see the British press on this. I also couldn’t help but wonder, vis a vis the coordination between the palaces and the press which was implicitly uncovered in Harry’s recent trial, if it is in fact the BRF’s talking points we are seeing? Sour grapes, from a royal family ripe with scandals, about another royal family that is not as scandal-ridden and very popular with their people? I may be wrong. But whatever really happened in their marriage, I am certain this has been under way since before the slimming down, and I fear the queen is much more ill than she lets on.
My tinfoil tiara theory was that W got embarrassed by the bad press of the “they didn’t go to Christian’s 18th” and wanted to take the Danes down a peg. Fred provided ammo.
And there is a lot of projections/BRF talking points being hung on this story. Will’s cheating, they can’t talk about it. Will reallllly wants his dad out, that ain’t happening any time soon.
The British tabloids are focusing on the cheating part of the marriage because they are desperate to out William for the same, but they can’t.
Also one major difference is that Charles will never abdicate to stop Kate from leaving.
Yeah, THIS. Hmmmmmmm, what other royal marriage might be helped by someone abdicating?
*crickets*
It’s cute the rota is jumping up and down on this one, trying to make something happen in England.
ETA: Do the Danes do this every NYE? Chop, chop, left behinds.
Who knows maybe it was she wanted to make sure no mistress became queen or maybe she didn’t want to do the queen thing anymore and wanted a much earned retirement. Mary and Fredrick did look happy. If he is a cheater I don’t think this will stop him from cheating it just may be harder to do know.
Being King has never made it more difficult or stopped anyone from cheating before.
She is breathtaking in these pics, and according to one of the tabloids this is the 6th time she has worn this dress.
Mary definitely knows how to wear her jewelry. Absolutely adore her tiara, earrings and all the rest. She wears the right amount, not overdone.
I’ve seen the ruby-diamond tiara in person – and it is absolutely exquisite!
Wow, okay. 😳 Next level way to save a marriage. 👀 The adulterer’s mother, who happens to be Queen of Denmark (the oldest known monarchy), abdicates the throne to make her daughter-in-law happy, as Queen Consort. I guess hooray, we’ll get to see another coronation this year, Denmark-style!
Can you guys just hear and visualize the raging, incandescent fury of Peg at KP. 🤪🫣😉😂
No coronation , just parliament announcement and fed took oath, checkout nether land and Spain, no coronation like chuck.
@water; the dutch king had a coronation
Sorry i confused with Luxembourg.
They won’t be doing a big public ceremony, so no coronation.
Aww, shucks! 🤷🏽♀️ Well, at least there will be some kind of ceremonial oath-taking and photo-calls on the day, without all the overdone British-style gaudy embellishments, elaborate military processionals with long robes and store-bought tiaras (😜), plus the pretend anointing by God. 🙄
It will probably just be Fred in a suit being proclaimed by the PM. And before there’ll probably be a ceremony where Daisy signs papers of abdication.
It is going to happen in 2 weeks – and even the PM didn’t know that Daisy was going to abdicate. There won’t be a big fancy to do – those take months to plan.
@Art Historian, what is the Danish take on this story. Does it have to do with Daisy’s health, the CP marriage… or does she just want to enjoy doing the things she loves while she is still well enough? Is Frederik popular? Is Mary?
Out of interest why do people call her ‘Daisy’ – is it a nickname?
Marguerite/Margaret/Margarita = Daisy in various languages.
@LRB,
Her health problems are well-known, so that is seen as the main reason. But commentators are also talking about her not wanting her son waiting until he is an old man. The gossip about their marriage is pretty much a non-story, relegated to the glossy tabloids. Besides, their private life is not really our business. Sexual scandals aren’t something that draws a lot of attention and outrage here (unless there are criminal elements present). Fred and Mary are popular, as is Daisy and the general opinion is that she deserves to retire like other people her age do.
@Digital Unicorn – “Daisy” is a nickname for forms of Margaret (marguerite == the daisy flower in French) and is a nickname that the Queen is known by. She was named for her grandmother Margaret of Connaught who was also called Daisy. The large daisy brooch she wore for her speech is a favorite heirloom.
@digital unicorn She’s called Daisy because marguerite is French for a Daisy. You can often see her wear a daisy brooch. That goes back to her grandmother Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was also called Daisy. She was give the diamond brooch for, I think, her wedding in 1905. She also had daisies embroidered on her gown and veil.
Margaret’s daughter Ingrid of Sweden was devoted to her mother and her memory. (Margaret died while expecting her sixth child in 1920.) She inherited a number of her mother’s possessions including some of her jewelry. It was not surprising that she named her first daughter after her beloved mother.
Lots of people on here have said that the relationship between these two started with an affair. If that is true, why anyone would think this behaviour would then end is beyond me. I guess a life of shiny things is worth it to some folks.
A life time of shiny things, privilege beyond anything we will comprehend and power. Power as well.
What power? It’s a constitutional monarchy, so by definition, there is no power.
These royal “experts” are being messy boots and saying what they can’t say about William and Kate. Personally i think it’s more to do with her health because i disagree; she did not look healthy. In her speech she talked about spinal surgery and indicated she might need another one. And the whole title ordeal makes a lot more sense now. She was preparing things for her son
I agree. The British tabloids are desperate to say this about William but they are cowards and let him shut them down. I think she decided to abdicate for many reasons which includes her health. She probably knows exactly what her cousin Elizabeth endured and now that her grandson is 18 and can take on things as well, she likely feels that it is fine to step aside.
It’s not uncommon for European monarchs to do this.
That was my take too. She was organising this for a while and waited for Christian to turn 18.
Of course she looked happy, she’s going to be Queen Consort in two weeks.
Yep, and it won’t be too far off from Mary’s 52nd birthday, on February 5th. Cool 52nd birthday present, I guess. 🤔 🎂 👑
Thank you for getting her status correct. In the pursuit of fairytales and hyperbole, it seems to be lost in the shuffle.
But she will be called Queen Mary. That’s her title. Queen consort is her position. Queen Consorts are not called QC [insert name] .
But technically couldn’t a king and queen still separate and divorce? I’m guessing this makes it harder but isn’t it still possible?
It is and i fail to see how the whole “she did this because of the cheating scandal” argument makes sense. As King Fredrick can do what he wants and there is nothing Margrethe can hold over her sons head to make him behave. So if he wants to philander he can philander to his hearts content. He wouldn’t be the first king and he definitely won’t be the last
Yeah I don’t think this is about the cheating. Timing wise it seems like it could be but this is too big a step to take to…..what, tell frederik he can’t get divorced? I think it’s more likely she was planning this for a while and it’s just how the timing shakes out.
@Chloe, it’s def a valid assumption, like it or not. For sure, the timing at this moment seems apropos to saving the marriage. Several things can be true at the same time, eh.
Queen Margrethe indeed may have recently been rethinking her ‘never abdicate’ stance due in large part to her health concerns. With the prospect of additional surgery, and unforeseen future additional physical complications, she may have been thinking about this for awhile. In fact, the cutting back on the titles for her second son Joachim’s children, may have been part of her paving the way to abdicate for Fred.
With the recent unsettling public revelations of Frederik’s wandering scepter (😜), Queen Margrethe may have decided to move up the timing of a decision she has been considering in light of a desire to perhaps have the luxury of recuperating from more surgery with a lighter schedule. Plus, she now has the opportunity to concentrate on her lifelong creative projects, while also enjoying seeing her son and beloved daughter-in-law in their magisterial roles.
I think it was a factor in the decision to do it now, but probably not the main reason to abdicate. I think Christian turning 18 was a stronger reason. She can see how William flails around even in his 40s and how Charles is not as popular as his mother and some of that is due to age.
Henry VIII managed divorce.
He created an entire new religion to sanctify his divorce. I don’t think that possible today.
He wouldn’t have to. They aren’t Catholic.
Look at Juan Carlos and Sofia in Spain. Still technically married, but she lives in Madrid and he lives in the United Arab Emirates. Separation is always an option, even when you’re king.
Actually, if I’m remembering all my history correctly, the Danes are the only monarchy with a king that’s divorced since the middle ages. I can’t remember if it was a Frederick or a Christian, but the queen was formerly a british princess so her brother, one of the George’s, helped negotiate her exile. While she did confess to infidelity while under arrest historians remain divided on if she was really having an affair or just hoping to save the man involved, he ended up being executed.
The English princess Caroline Mathilde married Christian VII and had an affair with her husband’s doctor and advisor Struensee. Her second child was fathered by her lover. That child was a daughter, she was officially recognized as a daughter of Christian VII but I don’t think that there’s much doubt about her real paternity. The consensus is that Struensee was the father. The girl married the Duke of Augustenborg and her daughter became Queen of Denmark as the consort to Christian VIII.
More recently than that. Frederick VII divorced two wives while CP and then married morganatically as king. He had no children which is what brought the Glucksburg onto the throne.
Mary always looks fabulous – girlfriend knows how to rock the bling and she does work. If she’s had work done she needs to pass on the deets to Mumbles who looks like she’s being getting a 3 for 1 deal alongside Ma and Pippa.
Yeah, Mary and Fred in their 50s look younger than W&K here!
Fred look same but you should look at mary unedited photo. She is same as kate with botox and filler.
Yeah, @water, she definitely uses botox and fillers but she’s also a decade older than Kate and despite all that, she looks much better than Kate in the unedited photos
@water — yes, but Mary hasn’t starved herself into a pipe cleaner figure. She looks good for her age because she’s the proper weight.
Mary did indeed starve herself. You obviously never saw her pre-engagement. She was the weight of an ordinary woman. You also haven’t seen her untouched photos. She looks very old and has a lot of sun damage.
As for her fearing that Frederik may be returning to his “playboy” ways, my guess is that he never left them. This is who he is and being king will make affairs easier, not more difficult.
P.S. Mary is gorgeous and so is that velvet gown. Frederik is such a fool.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but yes, Mary looks good in her extravagant gowns, jewellery and hairdressing, as most women would.
Affairs abroad won’t be easier because as a monarch he needs a regent when he leaves the country.
I do not know what to think but I am leaning more on the side that she had this planned considering that her younger son is no longer in the picture. This looks like it was calculated and planned out more than anything and if it keeps Mary happy – well that’s icing on the cake.
Maybe this is what the Queen wanted; for them to look happy at her retirement instead of being gleeful at her funeral like the Brits.
^^ 🫡 🤣😂😆🤫
😅😂😂😂
LMAO! That makes as much sense as anything else.
They look happy? OK, I guess…I remember Mary’s face more than a month ago during the Spanish royal visit when the affair rumors started…she seemed embarrassed and couldn’t fake it…Anyway, the show must go on, obviously..thus the happy faces…
I think it’s health concerns but also seeing the hot mess express of the UK Royal family might have made her reconsider her plan to never abdicate. The Spanish and Dutch royal families seem much better positioned with younger more popular kings and queens. Having your heir wait for your death into his mid-70s and then restarting the whole ‘waiting for an old parent to die’ watch isn’t very exciting and not great for family relations. think William is a horrible person (and will be a terrible king) but from many aspects the monarchy might be more popular with him and Kate on the throne.
More popular?! How so? 🙄 Cain and Mumbles, aka Willnot and Cannot, have always been deathly boring, even way back-in-the-day when many of us thought they were at least decent humans, albeit lazy and work-shy.
She was a lifer – she said in 2023 she would remain until her death, so something must have shaken her so much she decided abdicating was the way to go.
It seems abdicating is becoming the way to go, so to speak. It takes the morbidity out of the whole “ascension to the throne”
I think it may have been a combination of watching how things went with Queen Elizabeth and Princess (former queen) Beatrix. Elizabeth struggled to perform duties of state in her final year with a leadership crisis in the prime minister’s office. Beatrix has led a quiet retirement while her son deals with government shake-ups. Also, a lot of ceremonial duties required standing and walking, but it was clear before and after the back surgery that she was in a lot of pain while on her feet.
Mary looked like the cat who’d got the cream at the new year event. Regardless of the state of her marriage, she’s got the big prize that makes being a royal spouse worthwhile.
That remains to be seen. The current reigning Queen is not dead. She’s the born-royal, regnant and sovereign, not Mary.
I think that health wise there is a lot more going on with the Queen, that back operation could have thrown up things that weren’t expected. I remember our late Queen in the UK, and being told she is resting, or has back and mobility problems, when in fact she had bone cancer.
As for her abdication, there is no way that that will “save” marriage, all you will have is a king who tries to be more discreet (but fails), and a queen who in the press varies from day to day as either an object of pity, or someone they pour scorn on for putting up with it.
You can bet your life that bully and inaction barbie are rubbing their hands with glee, and making sure there are newspaper articles about this all over Charlie’s office and in his red box!!! Stand by for more war of the Windsors.
Pegs and Triple K must be fit to be tied! Dogshit Charlie could last another 20 years. What a hot mess both Pegs and KKKhate will be in 20 years! They already look far older than they really are.
Pegs wants that fancy hat right NOW, dammit. DS Charlie better watch his back!
Word. I am all in for serious medieval shenanigans in the House of Windsor.
She looks good. There is a video of them arriving and they never touch or hold hands, she walks behind him at some points and he’s accidentally stepping on her dress. Minimal eye contact. But it’s game face on, and she is dressed and ready for the occasion.
It looked more to me that the train of her velvet gown got wet and was dragging, it was probably a bit heavy, the wetter it got.
It was raining and she was holding up the hem to stop it from getting wet. That said she exited from the far door and not the one closest to the entrance so Frederic wasn’t super thoughtful with that either.
Was Kate’s coronation tiara modelled after this one that Mary is wearing? They look very similar.
Oh good lord, Tatler is bringing Kate into the conversation about Queen Mary of Denmark, how similar they are, they look alike and both are such assets to their respective countries and the final kicker, how hard they both work! Bwahahahaha! Mary yes, Kate no.
I was gonna ask whats preventing Mary from going out with a male companion – someone known to the family of course, who is good-looking, taller and with a better body than Frederick…….just to give freddy a taste of the humiliation he gave her and give the hoi polloi something to talk about.
But I think I can answer my own question:
ive just done a quick google search into Mary’s past……she was born in Australia in ’72 to academics; she done as many Australian youngsters do: go back-packing throughout Europe after college. She met Freddy in a bar in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics and they married in 2004.
As she described herself, she was a jeans shorts and tee-shirt kinda girl, often going barefoot, In other words, a typical Australian lass with no time for airs and graces.
But she’s taken to royalty like a fish to water. The fact that she became perhaps theee best-dressed royal woman in europe, suggests to me that she’s leaned all the way in to the glamour, airs-&-graces and inherent pretentiousness of royalty. So much so that its difficult to tell where the real woman begins and ends, vis-a-vis her role of crown princess.
She seems to have become the most plastic woman that ever lived, in terms of her smile, her bearing and how she always looks impeccably well dressed in public……as if appearances is of paramount importance to her.
So I can quite believe that the public outing of her husband with a mistress was a sucker punch to her, not just because the fact of one’s husband’s infidelity is personally hurtful, but the fact that it became so publicly embarrassing for her; and I can very well believe she issued an ultimatum and the old queen, knowing that her time on the throne is dwindling anyway and seeing how betty was completely taken advantage of in such a public way as she aged; and not wanting that for herself or the kingdom and knowing that freddy prolly needs something to occupy him gainfully, she gave in.
This. People in this site only got curated version of Mary. Mary was OG Kate , she was in debt after college, work as receptionist like typical people. She definitely find out about royals when she and her friends are having drink when she saw someone used black card and one of her friends said that royal princes are here for Olympics. She hit on Greek prince , now Spain king and lastly Fred. He was so drunk , he barely remember their encounter next day. This was supposed to be Fred fling because he had long time girlfriend on Denmark. Daisy learned about this encounter and made Fred to break up his gf because inbreeding in Denmark. Daisy kind of choose Mary to Fred and Fred resent daisy( one of many reasons) . Thats why Daisy is fond of Mary because she practically choose her for Fred. But Credits for Mary for learning the language. But she knew from the beginning of his cheating. She was publicly humiliated , with Letizia and king Philip who reject her advances in bar , to witness her humiliation on person is salt on the wound.
Did he not want to marry his long term girlfriend but his mother refused ?
The rumours where that Daisy pushed Mary on Fred and Mary more or less moved to Denmark v quickly and took royal.lessons ?
Anyway l saw a documentary about Fred, he talked about his depression and future, he came across very down to earth, trained with the Special.Forces, speaks 4/5 languages. Himself and Mary came across professional but they didnt seem like a married couple ?. I always wondered why he went out in public with this Lady in Madrid of all places was it to.force someones hand ?.
I’m sorry but it’s just not true what you’re saying. There’s no inbreeding in Denmark, smh. Fred was single when he met Mary.
And the story about the Spanish fling is not a big deal in Denmark. Most people don’t believe it.
@KatharinaV, It is kinda funny to read the stories that people concoct. The “Daisy chose Mary for Fred”- variation is certainly a new one. It was clear that they were in love when they got married. Also, the his girlfriend before Mary had a reputation for calling the paps.
Fred was not single when he met Mary. He had a long-term girlfriend back home, Bettina, I think her name was. She was a designer, I think. Maybe it wasn’t a grand love affair. But still, his cheating is well known. It’s also true that Daisy did in fact choose Mary because she announced the engagement before Fred had proposed. QM wanted Fred to marry before the announcement that her youngest son was to divorce. I’m not sure how you can tell that two strangers in the public eye are in love.
The royal forums back in the day were very critical of Mary and while she probably did pursue Fred when he was in Sydney, we don’t have a record of Mary changing her schooling to follow him and she did have a few jobs before they even met.
And moving halfway across the world in addition to learning a new language is significant. She also has a good record doing charity work and going to the UN. Is she willing to put up with cheating for a crown? Yes most likely, but she wouldn’t be the first woman to do that and she hasn’t lived a completely idle and shallow life as a princess.
Mary did move to Europe to pursue him after their hook up in Sydney, first Paris and then to Denmark as she got more successful. She had her eyes on the prize.
The huge difference between her and Kate is that she had a regular job before she met Fred and she’s very much “done the work” since getting married – honestly I think she has a much better work ethic than Fred does.
She was definitely dish-able because she was definitely thirsty and gets a lot of use out of her black Amex but showing up and doing the work with a good attitude has earned local respect. Including from her mother in law.
Are you sure Mary is not shallow? She seems to enjoy all the superficial, luxury perks of being royal and her appearance is very important to her. Mary loves designer labels, she devours all that like a hungry wolf. That’s the very definition of shallow. Her work history pre-Fred showed her also to be supercilious and materialistic.
What is overlooked in a male and in the actual heir to the throne is different from what would be overlooked in a female and a married-in.
Just wait: the British press is gonna use this news to push a bunch of ‘friendly but necessary discourse’ on whether Charles should do the same for W&K, and when he ‘should’ do so. No doubt he’ll be very annoyed.
I don’t think Margrethe did this in response to the cheating scandal at all. I actually think that between Elizabeth’s death (knowing how sick she was and the BRF immediately going from circling the drain to full-out dumpster fire afterward) and the fiasco with removing some of her grandchildren’s titles, this has been in the works for a while. It’s just very funny timing with the Frederick story.
People are living longer so the days of staying on the throne till you die might be over. The Queen also saw what happened to Queen Elizabeth, in addition to Elizabeth’s health issues there may also have been some dementia and Elizabeth did not appear to have made any arrangements for her old age.
Also 50 something with not much to do but wait for your mother to die is not a good place, so having this responsibility as King is good for him, less time to go chasing skirts. But I do hope they are seeing a marriage counselor and getting professional advice.
I believe her when she said she didn’t know who he was when they met. Mary did not move to Denmark and looked for ways to join i
16 hours later, you won’t read this but even officially she was invited by a friend of a friend of one of the royals. So she knew. But even if she deliberately stalked him, she’s the best thing that ever happened to Fred. Let’s face it. She wanted change in her life which is why she did a course run by a stylist and actor, how to walk, socialise, be photographed etc. She wanted it. And she has done a fantastic job. And learned Danish very quickly. And gave her first speech in Danish very soon after marriage (I think, can’t find it now)
TIL: That (the late) Elizabeth & Margrethe are 3rd cousins. Direct descendants of Queen Vic. Making Chuck & Fred 4th cousins. Weirdo’s, the whole lot of them
“It just seems an extraordinary coincidence that she should make this unexpected announcement just a couple of months after stories emerged of the Crown Prince supposedly having an affair…”
Sometimes, things really are just what they seem. I can’t see her suddenly deciding to abdicate in response to Frederik’s affair, especially since the date will be the anniversary of when she ascended to the throne. To announce two weeks before it happens, this has been planned and in the works for a while. My theory is, his cheating scandal delayed her announcement if anything.
I don’t think the decision is about “saving” Frederick and Mary’s marriage – how or why would that even work? “Here, your marriage seems like it’s struggling, I’m going to shine an even stronger spotlight on it! See ya!” The argument that CP Mary would be swayed by promises of access to more fancy clothes and jewels seems unlikely – we have seen her wear all kinds of fabulous things already.
I think it is simply more likely that Margrethe is abdicating for her own reasons. It certainly makes for a smoother transition. So why didn’t she abdicate ten years ago, when the Dutch and Belgian monarchs did? It may be that she thought that so long as QEII stayed on the throne, she (Margrethe) should, too. Or she saw the physical and mental toll it took on Elizabeth in the past few years with the chaotic “don’t call it a regency” and all of the squabbling and warring between the Windsor households. Better to hand off the crown securely and then live your best life, doing only the parts of the job you enjoy and leaving the more difficult things.
The Dutch and Belgian monarchs had good reason to abdicate 10 years ago that Margethe did not have then. Queen Beatrix had lost her husband and then her second son was gravely injured in an accident (he was in a vegetative state and died after the abdication). King Albert II was facing controversy over ducking paternity tests ordered by a woman who has now been proven to be his illegitimate daughter. Back then, Margrethe had the support of her husband and faced no major problems. Today, she’s a widow who has been crippled with pain. At the funeral of Prince Henrik, I remember thinking that Margrethe appeared to have shrunk since her husband’s death. I chalked it up to lack of appetite due to grief. But she continued to shrink a bit more as the years went on. I really believe she no longer felt she could carry out her obligations to the crown, and that was the overriding factor in her decision.
Mary is quite beautiful. Genoveva looks like a cheaper version of her, as mistresses too often do.
Mary can definitely look good with a lot of makeup. Some people have the sort of face that can take a lot of makeup. She also has a nice profile. I think Genoveva is just as attractive, but she doesn’t plaster her face with heavy-duty makeup. Did you see the recent photos of Mary in Aus? You wouldn’t pick her out of a crowd.
Well, now we know the inspiration for Kaitie’s crappy coronation craft crown.
Working ‘hard’ as most people understand it and royalty is incongruous. Mary does not work ‘hard’ at all. She’s a master at looking like she works hard. She’s as shallow as a puddle too. Her background was laid bare and it was obvious that she was a grifter on the make with a very patchy work history, but she got lucky. I know Mary’s old haunts and why she hung out where she did because her type who migrate here are easy to spot in Sydney. After the engagement, it was revealed that Mary always thought very highly herself. An ex-boss said she expected to be the CEO without working her way up. She was a very ordinary looking young woman when Fred met her. It’s amazing what unlimited money and resources can achieve! We could all look as good if we had her money and wardrobe allowance because she’s not that special, as can be seen in her recent pap shots where she is off-duty. Theirs was not the chance meeting the media has always hyped it up as. The media has a tendency to make up fairytales because that’s what sells. I’ll give her this. Her rampant ambition has made her and Fred look good. In that way, she’s more Meghan than Kate. Mary finally got what she wanted, or what she thought she wanted. I have a feeling that with the current reigning Queen remaining “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe” Mary won’t be calling the shots. Just an aside, Mary won’t be “Queen”. She is consort, just as Camilla is and Kate will be. She won’t be regnant, though her title will be HMQM. Regnant is reserved for the heir, according to law. QM did say she was passing the throne to her son, Prince Frederik, not Mary. It’s not at all a difficult concept. It’s all really grasping referring to her as “Queen” as though there is no distinction. No need to elevate her, she’s led the fairytale life she dreamed of, and then some, far and above her talent or looks, if one reveres marrying well and into royalty an achievement. I had to chuckle at her advocating for “equality”, whilst being a senior member of an institution that is an affront to equality.
They both look EXHAUSTED. (Mary has always given me good vibes esp since she’s Aussie like me, but I really dislike giving any royalty – in this day and age when we need to be egalitarian – attention, even a few clicks.) Aren’t they only mid- and early 50s max? Having young kids and teens and being constantly in the public eye in a kind of ambiguous role (not elected, kind of out of date, constantly needing to show exactly why you’re needed, etc.) will do that to you, I suppose.