The Duchess, 59, took part in a cheeky drinking game during the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials over the weekend in Norfolk. And her husband Edward, Duke of Edinburgh managed to capture the entire thing on film. 

He and the couple’s eldest daughter Lady Louise have possibly never laughed so hard, watching Sophie’s antics. 

The Duchess was meant to down a glass of sparkling water as she drove the carriage and then set the glass down at the next stop. Well, at one point, Sophie didn’t manage to drink her bubbles in time. So next thing you know, she was left, hilariously, driving her carriage while gripping the wine glass with her teeth.

Sophie eventually finished the course, leaving her smiling for yet another reason. Earlier, she was crowned the new president of the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials. 

Lady Louise also competed in events over the three-day competition. And, of course, mum Sophie was there, watching and cheering her on the entire time. 

The event is extra special to the royals. Lady Louise’s late grandfather Prince Philip founded the Sandringham trials in 1982. It’s held every year the weekend after Royal Ascot. 

However, this is only the most recent heart-warming moment mum and daughter have shared. Here, we take a closer look at their beautiful bond and sweetest memories over the years. 

A BEAUTIFUL BOND: THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH AND HER DAUGHTER

01

Welcome to the world, Lady Louise Windsor

Lady Louise was born from an emergency C-section on November 8th. Being born four weeks premature, she developed a rare visual impairment leaving her with a squint that made it challenging to see well. But she ended up having surgery to correct the issue. 

For mum Duchess Sophie, Louise’s health challenge was an opportunity. Thanks to her daughter, she dove in to support others around the world with similar problems. 

The royal became a patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. She is also a global ambassador for Vision 2020 who’s on a mission to eliminate avoidable blindness over the next five years. 

At an event, Sophie said, “I have seen sight being restored. And I can promise you there are few things more rewarding in this world than seeing someone step from the dark into the light.”

02

Trooping the Colour 2009

Mum and a smiling and saluting Louise enjoy a royal outing at Trooping the Colour.

From a young age, Lady Louise’s royal responsibilities have been balanced, with a strong focus on having a normal childhood. It’s a balance that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was instrumental in maintaining.  

That has meant Lady Louise, who is currently a student at St Andrew’s University, has remained largely out of the spotlight, except for some major royal events like this.

03

The Unibet EuroHockey Championships 2015

The mother-duo love a good sporting match. It’s so sweet and refreshing to see them let their hair down once in awhile.

04

The Wild Place Project at Bristol Zoo 2016

Sophie and Louise crouched down to feed the ring-tailed lemurs during a visit to the zoo in 2016. Louise always in her riding boots, of course!

05

Sailing in 2018

Sophie looks on as Louise helms ‘Donald Searle’ – an Ocean 75ft Ketch Yacht during an Association of Sail Training Organisation’s sailing day in Gosport, England.

06

 The Royal Windsor Horse Show 2018

Duchess Sophie and Louise look happy as can be at the Horse Show! Carriage driving is a sport they both have long been passionate about.

Some say that Louise ‘inherited’ the passion from her late grandfather Prince Philip. In fact, she often wears an equestrian brooch on her riding jacket as a tribute to him. 

07

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 

Mum and daughter attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathaedral in London looking pretty in pink!

The post Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh has daughter in stitches during carriage drinking game appeared first on Now To Love.

His younger brother Prince Vincent may be less well known, but he is quickly becoming a prominent figure in the Danish monarchy. So who is Prince Vincent? Find out below.

Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander was born on 8 January 2011 to the now-King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark.

The young prince is a twin, and is 26 minutes older than his sister Princess Josephine of Denmark.

The 13-year-old royal is believed to be named in acknowledgement of the French roots of his grandfather, Prince Henrik. Meanwhile, his middle names also have familial and royal ties. 

He was given the second name Frederik after his father, and also because it is a custom for Danish princes to have either Frederik or Chrisitan among their given names.

Minik is a popular Greenlandic name meaning “oil used to seal skins”, and Greendland is a territory of Denmark.

Finally, Alexander is a popular name in Denmark that means “defender of men”, and is also a common name in his mother Mary’s family.

Vincent is the third child of Frederik and Mary and is currently third in line to the Danish throne. Ahead of him are his elder brother Christian (2005) and elder sister Isabella (2007).

As he’s gotten older, Prince Vincent of Denmark has begun making appearances at more official royal engagements, and he attended his first event in 2014 when he was just three years old.

At the time, all four royal children accompanied their parents King Frederik and Queen Mary on an official visit to Greenland, where they planted trees in Qaqortoq’s new grove, named Ivalos og Miniks Poppellund.

The grove was named after both Josephine and Vincent who are referred to by their Greenlandic names in the territory.

Vincent currently attends the same public school that all of his siblings went to, Tranegårdsskolen.

Who are the godparents of Prince Vincent of Denmark?

Prince Vincent and his sister Josephine were christened at the same time on 14 April 2011, and their godparents were officially announced at the service.

Vincent has six godparents in total, one of them being his maternal uncle, John Stuart Donaldson, who is Queen Mary’s brother.

The prince’s other godparents are King Felipe VI of Spain, Frederik’s first cousin Gustav, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille, Baroness Helle Reedtz-Thott and one of Mary’s lady-in-waiting, Caroline Heering.

Who does Prince Vincent look like?

Royal onlookers love to make comparisons between the appearances of the Danish royal children and their parents. 

“Beautiful siblings . The twins have so grown up ,” one royal fan commented on a recent photo of Josephine, Isabella and Vincent together.

Meanwhile, another wrote, “Handsome Vincent ”.

Prince Vincent is often said to look extremely similar to his father, King Frederik X, and these similarities only seem to be growing as the young prince ages.

Some key physical features Vincent shares with his father are his striking blue eyes and light-coloured hair.

What titles does Prince Vincent have?

The official title of Vincent is His Royal Highness Prince Vincent of Denmark, Count of Monpezat.

The Count of Monpezat title is a title of nobility given to all hereditary descendants of King Frederik X and his brother Prince Joachim.

The post Everything there is to know about Prince Vincent of Denmark appeared first on Now To Love.

But who is Josephine really? Here’s everything there is to know about the young princess.

Born on 8 January 2011, 26 minutes after her twin brother Vincent, Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda is the youngest member of the Danish royal family.

It’s believed that the 13-year-old was given her first name in tribute to one of her godmothers, Josephine Rechner as well as Josephine of Leuchtenberg who was the Queen of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to 1859.

Meanwhile, her middle name Sophia is from the Greek word meaning “wisdom”, Ivalo is a Greenlandic name meaning “thread”, and Mathilda is thought to be an homage to her mother’s Australian roots as the name is featured in the iconic Australian song, Waltzing Matilda.

Along with her twin brother Prince Vincent, Josephine also has two other older siblings. Crown Prince Christian was born in 2005 and Princess Isabella was born in 2007.

As fourth in line to the Danish throne, it is highly unlikely that Princess Josephine will ever become Queen of Denmark, but she is likely to spend much of her life attending royal engagements and representing the crown.

The 13-year-old appeared at her first ever royal engagement in 2014, when she was just three years old. All four royal children accompanied their parents King Frederik and Queen Mary on an official visit to Greenland, where they planted trees in Qaqortoq’s new grove at the time, Ivalos og Miniks Poppellund.

The grove was named after both Josephine and Vincent who are known by their Greenlandic names in the country.

Since 2023, the princess has attended Kildegård Private School in Gentofte, and prior to that she and Vincent went to the same public school as their older siblings, Tranegårdsskolen.

Who are the godparents of Princess Josephine of Denmark?

Princess Josephine has six godparents in total, including her paternal aunt, Princess Marie of Denmark, and her maternal aunt Patricia Bailey.

Her other godparents are close friends of Frederik and Mary, Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, Count Bendt Wedell, Birgitte Handwerk and Josephine Rechner.

Who does Princess Josephine look like?

As Princess Josephine has continued to grow up and develop into a beautiful young woman, royal onlookers have begun to make comparisons between the young royal and her mother in terms of appearance.

Her long brown hair, round cheeks and shy smile are just some of many features Josephine shares with Queen Mary.

The Danish royal family often upload photos of the children to their social media pages, and followers are quick to take to the comments and make known their opinions about who each child looks like.

On a post from May 2024, one person wrote, “Josephine really looks a lot like our queen”, while another echoed that sentiment on the twins’ 13th birthday portrait, saying, “Gosh, Josephine is so much like you Princess Mary!!”

What titles does Princess Josephine of Denmark have?

Josephine’s official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.

The title of Countess of Monpezat is a title of nobility given to all direct descendants of King Frederik X and his brother Prince Joachim.

The post Who is Princess Josephine of Denmark? Meet Queen Mary’s youngest child appeared first on Now To Love.

But just exactly who is Isabella? Here is everything you need to know about the Danish princess.

Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe, known as Princess Isabella of Denmark, was born on 21 April 2007 and is the second child of the current Danish king and queen – Frederik X and Australian-born Mary Donaldson.

She was named in tribute to multiple family members including her maternal grandmother, Henrietta Donaldson who passed away in 1997, as well as her great-grandmother on her father’s side, the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark, and her paternal grandmother Queen Margrethe.

The 17-year-old is one of four children and has one older brother and two younger siblings. Her eldest brother, Crown Prince Christian is 18-years-old, while her two youngest siblings are 13-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Isabella was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark and has lived there for the entirety of her life.

Thanks to the Danish Act of Succession referendum passing in 2009, Princess Isabella is the first princess in Danish history to not be bypassed by her younger brother in the line of succession, and is currently second in line to the throne behind her elder brother Christian.

The Danish princess undertook her first ever royal engagement in 2015, where she attended the baptism of a ferry named in her honour. On 6 June, the M/F Princesse Isabella set sail and marked Isabella’s first official event.

Once she turns 18, it’s likely her royal duties and responsibilities will increase and she’ll gain working royal status.

The 17-year-old currently attends school at Øregård Gymnasium, which is the same school both her father and uncle, Prince Joachim attended in their youth.

Isabella will likely graduate high school in 2025, and many royal experts believe she is extremely likely to attend university afterwards.

Who does Princess Isabella of Denmark look like?

There has been much discussion over who Isabella looks most like, with the beautiful princess sharing similar features with both of her parents.

Many royal onlookers believe Princess Isabella resembles her mother, Queen Mary, especially in terms of her facial structure.

Meanwhile, other fans are adamant she is the spitting image of her father, King Frederik. Her striking blue eyes are one key feature Princess Isabella has definitely inherited from her dad.

Supporters often make their opinions of who they believe Isabella looks like known, commenting on photos of the Danish royal family on their social media pages.

“It’s crazy how much Princess Isabella looks like King Frederik ,” one royal watcher has commented on an Instagram post of the royal children.

“Isabella looks like her dad when he was young,” another said.

Other people simply maintain the belief that Isabella is a perfect mix of both parents.

“Her face is so much like her dad’s, but she definitely has Mary’s smile,” one onlooker wrote.

Who are the godparents of Princess Isabella of Denmark?

Princess Isabella’s godparents include her father Frederik’s first cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, as well as Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Nadine Johnston, Christian Buchwald, Peter Heering and Marie Louise Skeel.

Isabella’s godparents are important people in her parents’ lives with the former being fellow European royals, and the latter being close friends of Frederik and Mary.

What titles does Princess Isabella of Denmark have?

Isabella’s official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.

She was given the title of Countess of Monpezat on 29 April 2008, when her grandmother Queen Margrethe granted the title of nobility to all hereditary descendants in the Danish royal family.

The post Who is Princess Isabella of Denmark? Meet the young Danish royal appeared first on Now To Love.

The couple have gone on to welcome four beautiful children together, and we can’t get over how grown-up they are now!

Most recently, the Danish royal family attended King Frederik’s annual Fun Run where all four children took part in the fun day out.

Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 17, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 13, were snapped on the day, with royal watchers shocked at how much older Vincent and Josephine now look.

The two youngest royal children are the least photographed members of the family, so supporters are always eager to see new photos of the twins.

“OMG ! It seems to me, like it was yesterday, the twins are born…” one social media follower commented.

“Omg, the twins have grown up!” another agreed, while a third added, “Beautiful siblings. The twins have so grown up.”

Prior to the Fun Run in May 2024, the 13-year-olds were last seen publicly at their father King Frederik’s accession ceremony in January.

Many of the photos of the royal children are captured by none other than their mother.

Queen Mary is stylish, intelligent, always poised – and also an incredible photographer. Is there anything she can’t do?

The Australian-born royal’s skills as a photographer have allowed fans glimpses into her life, especially when it comes to photos of her children.

Every year on their birthdays, the Danish royal family shares portraits of the children taken by the Queen, and supporters are always quick to flock to the comments and gush about how much they look like their parents.

Marking Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine’s 13th birthday in January 2024, the palace uploaded a photo of the twins, writing “Their Royal Highnesses Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine have a birthday and are turning 13 today”.

Many followers noticed the similarities between them and their parents, with one person commenting, “Gosh, Josephine is so much like you Princess Mary!!”

Meanwhile, another follower noted how much they’d grown up, writing, “Wow!! They’ve grown up so quickly! Congratulations and a very happy birthday from Australia! Teens at last!”

Similarly, royal supporters also draw comparisons between the older siblings, Crown Prince Christian and Princess Isabella, and King Frederik and Queen Mary.

On her 17th birthday, the palace again uploaded a photo of Isabella, taken by her mother, to mark the occasion, writing: “Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella has a birthday and is turning 17 today.

“Because of the birthday, Her Majesty the Queen has taken new pictures of the Princess together with the Royal Family’s one dog Coco.”

“She is beautiful just like her mom ”, one follower wrote, while another commented on a recent photo of the Princess saying, “It’s crazy how much Princess Isabella looks like King Frederik ”.

It seems royal watchers think Prince Christian looks like his father, as some have commented on photos of the Danish heir saying, “The Crown Prince is the image of his father in stature”.

These sentiments were echoed on another photo, with a fan writing, “Prince Christian looks more like his father as he matures.”

Princess Mary and Prince Frederik met during the Sydney 2000 Olympics at the Slip Inn pub in the Sydney CBD, and the then 28-year-old had no idea she’d just met a Danish royal.

“The first time we met we shook hands,” she recalled. “I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are?’”

The first year of their romance was a long-distance relationship, with Frederik making secret trips to Australia. In 2001, Mary moved to Denmark and their story rocketed into international folklore.

Two years later, on October 8, 2003, it was announced that the couple were officially engaged.

“I don’t recall wishing that one day I would be a princess,” Princess Mary said shortly after the engagement. “I wanted to be a veterinarian.”

The couple married on May 14, 2004, at Copenhagen Cathedral in the nation’s capital, where Mary wore a beautiful gown created by Danish designer Uffe Frank.

The post Queen Mary and King Frederik’s children are all grown-up in latest photos appeared first on Now To Love.

PARTY PRINCE 2.0

But is it any wonder that Christian is wholeheartedly enjoying his youth? His father King Frederik was a notorious playboy prince, with his wild antics regularly making headlines, amid rumours he struggled with his future of becoming king and his parents’ prioritising their duties above him.

There’s no doubt Mary is happy to let her children be children though, asking the press to “let the teenager [Christian] have his youth” but even so, seeing him drinking and dancing with friends in “the VIP section that was covered in vodka and Italian beers” has undoubtedly given the devoted mum a few sleepless nights.

Christian also recently made front-page news for driving his BMW without a seatbelt, although the palace has denied that he drove on public roads.

“Even so, he will probably not be reprimanded by his father, since Frederik has done numerous things wrong in traffic,” one magazine claimed.

Another source says the Danish people are very supportive of the teen and expect teenagers to party.

“The people of Denmark love Christian and forgive him easily,” reveals a palace insider. “They recognise that his youth will be full of mistakes, like he said himself when he turned 18. He parties more than his cousins Nikolai and Felix – who were at his 18th – but that’s just like how Joachim [his uncle] might have acted a little better than Fred in their young days!”

ROYAL HANDFUL!

It’s not just Christian who is experimenting with pushing boundaries. His sister Isabella, 17, was spotted having some fun and partying with a crew of teenagers – and possibly a boyfriend – while holidaying at the Swiss ski resort Verbier.

“Isabella has a very strong mindset, just like her mother. She’s well behaved, but I don’t think it will be long before she becomes a party princess,” tells the insider.

As for twins Josephine and Vincent, 13, they seem to have inherited their parents’ strong minds and daredevil spirit. Headstrong Josephine recently chose to skip a family holiday, while Vincent and his dad went off-piste in a dangerous ski area.

The post Queen Mary’s children are enjoying their youth… a little too much! appeared first on Now To Love.

She gave up her home in Sydney, her life with family and friends, her freedom and even her Australian citizenship.

All that considered, it’s easy to see why the hardworking Tasmanian would be determined to be successful and give her new life, representing the people of Denmark, her all.

Until very recently, things were going swimmingly, with her loving husband by her side.

ROCKED BY RUMOURS

But rocked by rumours of an unhappy marriage after King Frederik was spotted on an overnight trip in Spain with a Mexican socialite – and endless frosty outings that certainly suggest things aren’t well between the couple – the now-queen’s world has suddenly come crumbling down.

Now, in what might be the final straw, Woman’s Day hears a major blow may be about to come for Mary, 52, mere months after she was finally crowned Queen of Denmark as a reward for her years of dedication and hard work.

Despite formally abdicating on January 14 to make way for her son and daughter-in-law to reign, there is speculation Queen Margrethe may be having doubts about her decision to step down, with some royal commentators even going so far as to suggest she could be considering stepping back into the role of monarch after her son’s attempt at ruling has left her less than impressed.

Our source says the people of Denmark are also questioning 55-year-old Fred’s suitability for the role.

“Queen Margrethe would definitely be worried,” a Danish royal insider tells Woman’s Day of the monarch’s headspace just four months after stepping down.

“Margrethe has put a lot of energy over many, many years into ‘training’ Mary to be queen and has a lot of belief in her.

“But people have more faith in Margrethe than in Fred. Because of Mary´s popularity, Fred might become more popular, but I think people sense that he really isn’t born to be king.

FAMILY DRAMA

“It must have crossed her mind for sure,” the insider says of Margrethe, 84, potentially regretting her decision to step down in a move that was considered revolutionary.

“It’s obvious that something has been going on with Mary and Fred. It would be hard for Margrethe, who cares a lot about her daughter-in-law. No doubt she will have talked with Mary about being professional – even in a situation like this, where there are rumours of infidelity.”

While Mary has been spotted at countless royal engagements over the past few months – more often than not without Fred by her side – the king, who was famously reticent to rule before meeting his dutiful wife, has left the people of Denmark wondering what he has been doing in his short time on the throne.

“The people have definitely wondered where he has been,” our insider explains.

“The Danes have always loved Margrethe,” they add, suggesting they’d be more than happy to see more of the former monarch should she choose to step back into public life.

Despite speculation she is plagued with regret, Margrethe has so far, at least publicly, remained supportive and has not made any official moves when it comes to ordering Mary and Fred from the throne.

Our source says she is hopeful that the couple can work through their issues, both for the sake of their marriage and for the country she loves so dearly.

MARRIAGE WORTH SAVING

“Margrethe wishes the best for Mary and Fred, there’s no doubt about it, and she will do everything she can to help them save their marriage,” says our source.

“Mary takes her job so seriously and it would be so painful for her to step away just like that – she won’t do it.

“Most of Denmark was also ready for a younger couple to take over. Mary and Frederik have always been a power couple, but people will be watching closely to monitor any conflict between them.”

Last month, the royal couple admitted leadership has come with its challenges. But they were determined to assure the people they’ve not giving in just yet.

“We have not set a fixed route, but a good direction,” Mary said of their first months on the throne.

The post With Queen Mary and King Frederik’s marriage in turmoil, Queen Margrethe is questioning her decisions appeared first on Now To Love.

The news of their separation was confirmed by the Greek royal family on 19 April.

“Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana after fourteen years of living together, have decided to dissolve their marriage. Both express the difficulty of this decision, the deep appreciation and respect they have for each other, but also the love with which they have walked all these years,” the statement read.

“The same values of respect and understanding will form the basis of their relationship in the future, a relationship of deep and sincere friendship. They will continue to live and work in Greece, a place where they both feel at home. The family will always be at their side. Thank you very much for your respect and discretion.”

Nikolaos and event planner Tatiana were in a long-term relationship before their engagement was announced on 29 December 2009. 

A simple statement from Nikolaos’ father confirmed the news which read: “HM Queen Anne-Marie and I are delighted to announce the engagement of our son Nikolaos to Tatiana Blatnik.”

The couple tied the knot on 25 August 2010 in a lavish ceremony held in Greece at the 19th-century monastery of Ayios Nikolaos. The reception overlooked the ancient harbour including the Mediterranean’s crystal waters of Garifalo beach.

Key attendees at their wedding included Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden as well as Felipe VI of Spain and Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

Speaking to Vogue after her wedding, Tatiana said: “I do not feel like a princess. I do not feel that I married a prince, with a title. Well actually, yes, he is my prince, but nothing more. It’s a privilege, and an honour, to be part of the family.”

In a surprisingly candid confession, the Greek Princess admitted that becoming a royal did not have a big impact on her life.

“I live a very simple life here. I work, I go to the supermarket, I cook, I walk my dog, and the Greek people have welcomed me like they would anyone else. There’s a word here, philoxenia, a love of strangers, and I’ve really felt that very strongly here,” she said.

Although they were married for almost 14 years, Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana didn’t welcome any children together. 

In 2021, Tatiana admitted she found joy in being an aunt, saying: “Being an aunt is one of the biggest blessings in my life. My niece and nephew bring so much joy and happiness to everyone in our family. They are wise beyond their years and are some of the best teachers, constantly teaching me new things.”

The couple were last seen together on 27 February, when they attended the service of thanksgiving for Nikolaos’ late father, King Constantine, who died on 10 January 2023. 

Constantine II was King Charles III’s second cousin and good friend, and named the godfather of Prince William.

The post Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana of Greece announce shock divorce appeared first on Now To Love.

Beginning with the 75th anniversary of the Freedom Museum on April 3, the brave mother-of-four continued to fly solo a few days later at the opening of a Copenhagen deer park. Then on April 9, she put on a stunning display in a royal blue power suit, in defiance of the relentless speculation that all isn’t right in the marriage of Denmark’s king and queen.

Friends say Mary, 52, is determined to not let those rumours sway her from her duties, however palace insiders are still wondering just how much more the Aussie-born queen can take.

WHERE’S FRED?

Mary hasn’t been seen at a public event with King Frederik, 55, since March, when the couple attended an exhibit at the Amalienborg Museum in Copenhagen, but speculation about their marriage has now hit fever pitch after Mary’s three-in-a-row solo appearances.

Last November, allegations of an affair hit the couple when then-Prince Frederik was photographed walking with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid on an unofficial trip. The incident made international news, prompting denials from both parties and threats of legal action from 47-year-old Genoveva.

In what was widely considered to be an attempt to get her errant heir back on track, the sitting Queen Margrethe announced her abdication not long after, shocking Denmark. A month later, Frederick and Mary took the throne.

Now, in news that will come as little surprise, Woman’s Day can reveal things don’t appear to have gotten better for the embattled queen since.

According to Spanish publication Hola!, Frederik allegedly took another trip to Spain in February – just days before Genoveva relaunched herself on social media – but the king was not seen visiting the socialite. To add fuel to the fire, in March it was reported that Fred and Genoveva wear matching Shamballa bracelets, which sent speculation into overdrive yet again.

PALACE UNDER FIRE

“The palace has been on the back foot with this problem, and it’s not going to go away,” adds the regal insider.

“The fact they had to come out and make a statement that his bracelet was in fact a gift from the kids just shows how much this is getting out of control. But [Fred’s] only got himself to blame for all the rumours – going back to Madrid, of all places, a mere two months after he was spotted looking cosy with another woman is insanity.”

With all eyes on the royal couple, even the family’s ski trip over Easter was fraught with controversy after the castle’s flag was left raised. This signals that at least one member of the family was still in residence.

Unconfirmed reports suggest it was youngest daughter, Princess Josephine, 13, who stayed home. However, photos from the Swiss holiday did little to quell rumours of unhappiness, with Fred and Mary seemingly unable to look each other in the eye during one ski outing.

A palace insider confirms, “Mary and Frederik haven’t looked at ease with each other since that terrible scene in November, but he’s done very little to fix it.

“Hanging her out to dry at every event in Copenhagen is deeply worrying. The big fear for an outsider like Mary is whether or not this is acceptable behaviour. She must be feeling somewhat trapped right now.”

“It’s been a mind-blowing few months of highs and lows, and no one could have prepared for it,” adds a longtime friend of Mary’s. “Mary genuinely worships Frederik, so it was a love match all the
way for her. She’s also not the type to walk away from her duties as queen to the people of Denmark. She just won’t do it.

“She is likely feeling completely stuck – she’s the queen now. It’s not like she can just get up and leave.

“Mary takes her role as Denmark’s queen very seriously, but behind those brave smiles, she will be worried this total nightmare may not ever end.”

The post Since her husband was spotted with another woman, Queen Mary has been dealt countless blows back in the spotlight appeared first on Now To Love.

It’s been confirmed that the King and Queen earned over three million Australian dollars for fulfilling their royal duties last year – and they’re set for an even bigger pay rise.

Of the three million that they earned, Mary took home a casual $498,359 which was set aside as a direct ‘grant’.

Most of the couple’s joint income, which is paid for by the state, also covers other ‘dependent’ members of the royal family (including their four children) as well as housing and staff costs.

This meant that in 2023, the King and Queen of Denmark were left with just under $640,000 (AUD) to spend themselves on travel, clothing, and personal expenses.

It’s reported that Frederik and Mary’s income will only continue to increase since they ascended to the throne on 14 January 2024.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark took home a huge grant of 13 million Australian dollars last year, plus an additional private allowance of $2.9 million AUD.

So, Mary and Frederik will likely see their income take quite a significant jump since Frederik has become the ruling monarch.

However, the Danish government has made known their plans to change their appanage system – appanage refers to the grant of an estate, title, office, money or anything of value to young children of a monarch.

The Danish government is likely to introduce new legislation that will determine the amount of money given to the royal family as well as how it will be divided in terms of paying for royal related versus personal expenses.

According to the Danish press, the exact amount Frederik and Mary will be granted is still unknown as the government hasn’t yet sat on the issue.

In saying that, the Danish royals are exempt from paying tax and also have the ability to earn separate private income.

The King and Queen of Denmark have pursued private income streams for many years, and one example of this is renting out their luxury ski lodge in Switzerland on Airbnb, where they charge up to $20,000 per week!

As royals, the couple live a lavish lifestyle, but Mary is also known for her thrifty outfits. The Australian-born Queen often rewears dresses, suits, blouses and more, prompting her to be referred to as a sustainable and economical royal.

But that doesn’t mean that Mary doesn’t also spend extravagantly on occasion – especially on designer clothing pieces.

The Tasmanian-born royal often wears items from luxury labels, including Australian brand Zimmerman, however she does counteract this with some high street pieces from brands such as H&M.

The post Queen Mary of Denmark’s income has been revealed – and she’s set for a big pay rise in 2024 appeared first on Now To Love.

This is just one of the sensational claims Prince Albert’s former accountant has made about the 46-year-old South African former swimmer’s “dangerous spending” habits, after he was unceremoniously sacked last year after 22 years of service, following allegations of financial impropriety at the palace.

“I am neither corrupt nor a thief, all the improbable things of which the royal family, to whom I devoted myself for two decades, unjustly accuses me today,” former royal accountant Claude Palermo last week told French newspaper Le Monde.

He is suing the royal family for $1.6 million, but even more damaging, he has released five secret black notebooks detailing Albert and Charlene’s outrageous spending, including millions said to have been paid to Albert’s illegitimate children from relationships he had before he married.The accountant claims that the palace splashed out almost $5 million for a New York apartment for Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, 31, on top of the $600,000 allowance she gets each year.

Her half-brother Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, 20, is insured for kidnapping and ransom, and also gets a $600,000 annual allowance.

His mum Nicole is said to get a whopping $1.6 million allowance each year, and all these payments come out of a French bank account Albert keeps to allow him to provide money to his former girlfriends and their children, potentially without Charlene’s knowledge.

Former Air France flight attendant Nicole, 52, also demanded a London apartment for Alexandre, who Albert, 65, formally recognised as his son following DNA tests, because she “fears big problems with Charlene” if Albert dies, the accountant claimed.

While Charlene has spent millions on her wardrobe, lavish trips abroad, redecorating her palace office and Corsican holiday villa, and giving her own family hundreds of thousands of dollars, she appears to be anything but extravagant with her own personal staff.

Palermo claims that most of her eight full-time staff, including the nannies she hired to look after her nine-year-old royal twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, were immigrants paid just $160 a day.

Charlene did, however, spend more than $1 million to celebrate the twins’ birth and baptism, and in just one day in 2016 she asked the accountant for $110,000.

He also claims Albert has to continually release funds to Charlene because she can’t live on her $2.5 million allowance.

According to French media, Charlene has even earned herself the nickname “Marie Antoinette of Monaco”.

“During her solo holidays on the island of Corsica, she’d rent a villa with a $500-a-day chef, rental of a catamaran… spending $1.5 million in two and a half months,” tells an insider, adding Charlene gave $1.4 million to her brother Sean Wittstock to help him buy a house.

“It’s crazy. I have no control over the princess’ spending,” the accountant wrote in one of his notebooks.

The post How do Prince Albert and Princess Charlene spend their money? appeared first on Now To Love.

Now that things are starting to settle down, royal fans are wondering: when are Frederik and Mary heading to Australia?

The excitement surrounding the new Danish monarch has slowly started to ease since King Frederik and Queen Mary’s accession to the throne on 14 January 2024, but that doesn’t mean that the royals aren’t ramping up to participate in plenty of royal engagements.

King Frederik X has already announced the release of his book, a memoir about his life so far that mentions his original rebellion against becoming King as well as features him gushing over Queen Mary.

Additionally, Frederik has also revealed he’ll be embarking on an “official business promotional campaign in Poland”, from 31 January – 2 February 2024.

Due to her age and frailty towards the end of her reign, Queen Margrethe did not partake in many royal engagements during the last few years she was monarch, but because Frederik and Mary are still young and healthy, there’s no doubt there’s plenty more royal engagements, tours and state visits on the horizon in the near future, but what about Australia?

According to a reader poll by Nine, 36 per cent of Australians are keen for King Frederik and Queen Mary to come to Australia on a state visit. But how likely is it to actually happen?

Denmark doesn’t necessarily have a whole-lot to do with Australia, with the majority of domestic relations between the two countries revolving around renewable energy and action on climate change.

Considering that Queen Mary was last in Australia on an official royal engagement last year which was focused on sustainability and transitioning to more green energy solutions, it is unfortunately not overly likely that the Danish royals will visit Australia on an official state visit anytime soon.

In more negative news for royal fans, now that Frederik and Mary have become King and Queen, trips down under for personal reasons are less likely to happen.

“Going from Crown Princess to Queen will see Mary’s every move scrutinised more than ever before,” 9honey‘s royal reporter explained.

“She’ll be working harder in support of her husband, the King, and will have an endlessly busy diary of official engagements both at home and abroad.”

Queen Mary last visited Australia in December 2023, where she was accompanied by her youngest children, twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (13).

This visit was purely a personal one, with the Australian-born Queen visiting family for Christmas.

While they were here, the Danish royals maintained a relatively low profile and tried to fly under the radar, but we did get a few glimpses into what they got up to while they were down under.

During their stay in Sydney, Mary and her children climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge together and even got a snap of them at the very top. The photo was originally published to the official @bridgeclimb Instagram account, but was quickly taken down (likely to give them some privacy and security).

As mentioned earlier, aside from this personal trip taken by the Tasmanian-born royal, Queen Mary was last in Australia on an official royal engagement in late April 2023. Sadly, it was a short-lived trip with Mary only visiting the city of Sydney, and staying for just a single day.

The purpose of the trip was to “participate in an event with Danish business representatives involved in the green transition in Australia, as well as visit a number of Danish-clad projects related to sustainable construction and transport.”

Mary embarked on a tour of the wider Oceania area, and also visited neighbouring countries of Vanuatu and Fiji.

One reason for such a short trip is likely to be because the now-Queen and her husband, King Frederik attended King Charles’ coronation in early May.

Prior to that official royal engagement, Mary and Frederik were joined by their entire family down under for Christmas in December 2022.

This was the first time the Danish royals returned to Australia in five years due to Covid-19, and they stayed in Tasmania where Mary is originally from.

It seems to be a trend that Mary and Frederik come down under around Christmas-time so royal fans are hoping that means they’ll be back on our shores in December, or preferably even earlier!

The post Are King Frederik & Queen Mary planning a visit down under? appeared first on Now To Love.

The book, Kongeord (which translates to The King’s Word), addresses Frederik’s “thoughts and considerations about the monarchy, as well as what the King himself puts into the words: Connected, obligated, for the Kingdom of Denmark.”

The announcement of the memoir came via the social media page of the Danish Royal Family, saying, “United, bound, to the Kingdom of Denmark, […] Today, the book Kongeord is released.”

In the book, King Frederik praises and gushes over his wife, Australian-born Queen Mary.

“I love marriage, my wife, our children and the whole happy base that arises for the people who manage to stay together and persevere.”

In the book, Frederik also candidly said, “I have learned a lot from having a wife who, from time to time, reminds me that of course I am not always right, and that my words are not automatically believed, just because I am a man in the house.”

Frederik and Mary have been married for nearly 20 years, after famously meeting in Sydney in 2000.

Today they are the King and Queen of Denmark, but 24 years ago Frederik introduced himself as “just Fred” to the then-salesperson, Mary Donaldson.

Since then, the pair have remained each other’s ‘person’.

“I remember how my mother, Queen Margrethe, said in her wedding speech in 2004 that I had found peace and joy with Mary,” Frederik said.

It truly is a fairytale story and from this memoir, it seems the couple are as strong as ever.

The book also addresses Frederik’s initial struggles with the idea of being the future King of Denmark, with the current monarch wishing for a normal life when he was younger.

He revealed that he “just wanted to be like all other boys my age.”

“I remember my 18th birthday as something similar to the end of the world. It was the feeling that now everything that was fun and exciting was coming to an end.

“Fortunately, it didn’t,” Frederik shared.

The biography was written by award-winning Danish author, Jens Andersen, and is based on interviews conducted over the past 18 months.

Jens Andersen also wrote Frederik’s 2017 biography, Under Bjælken A Portrait of Crown Prince Frederik.

King Frederik and Queen Mary officially ascended to the Danish throne on 14 January in a rather low-key affair, where the new monarch was visibly overcome with emotion, wiping away tears before delivering a moving speech.

“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” he said.

“It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy.”

The King was then joined on the balcony by Mary and their four children, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

The post “I love marriage”: King Frederik praises wife, Queen Mary in new memoir appeared first on Now To Love.

The Danish royal family has been classified as the perfect family over the years and especially gained popularity in Australia after, Tasmania’s own, Mary Donaldson married the future King, Prince Fredrik.

In Queen Margrethe’s New Year’s Eve address, the 83-year-old monarch stated, “On 14th January 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.”

This left Crown Princess Mary of Denmark to be crowned Denmark’s new Queen following Queen Margrethe’s sudden abdication.

So who else is in the Danish royal family? We’ve listed everyone currently in the royal family.

Danish Royal Family

“The Throne Hall at Christiansborg Castle forms a frame for the first official portraits of Their Majesties The King and Queen.

The portrait series was taken by photographer Dennis Stenild a few moments after the King’s proclamation, which took place from the balcony of Tronsalen on the 14th. January 2024

The Royal Couple is pictured together with The Crown Prince, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince, and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.”

Queen Margrethe II

Queen Margrethe II

Margrethe is the oldest daughter of the late King Frederick IX and was born on April 16, 1940.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, she became the only reigning female monarch and has been the longest-reigning monarch in Denmark’s history.

The Queen’s younger years were very memorable as they led her to be labelled as the ‘Ashtray Queen’ after her affinity for cigarettes.

Margrethe was married to her husband Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark for over 50 years.

Margrethe announced her sudden abdication in her New Year’s Eve address, “On 14th January, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.”

King Frederik and Queen Mary

King Frederik X and Queen Mary

King Frederik X is the oldest son of Margrethe and Henrik, and he succeeded the throne following the Queen’s abdication. The ceremony was held on January 14, 2024.

Born on May 26, 1968, he became the Crown Prince of Denmark at the age of 4.

He worked for the U.N. and at the Danish Embassy in Paris and even underwent extensive military training in the Danish Navy, Army and Air Force.

He has a keen interest in environmentalism and even co-authored the 2009 book Polartokt Kongelig about the politics of climate change.

While in town for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, he met Mary Donaldson in a pub and merely introduced himself as ‘Fred’.

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson was born on February 5, 1972, and despite having Scottish parents she was born and raised in Tasmania.

The pair married on May 14, 2004, at the Copenhagen Cathedral.

Despite not being born into the royal family, Mary was the first non-royal, since Queen Ingrid, given the power to act as regent when Margrethe and Frederik were unavailable.

Prince Christian

Crown Prince Christian

The oldest child of Frederik and Mary, Prince Christian was born on October 15 2005.

Male monarchs of Denmark have only had the names, Fredrik or Christian since 1513.

This year the royal turned 18 and received many more royal duties and responsibilities. He then became the Crown Prince of Denmark on January 14 2024, when his father ascended the throne and became King.

Princess Isabella

Princess Isabella

Princess Isabella is the second-born child of Frederik and Mary born on April 21, 2007, making her third in line for the throne.

In May 2022, Isabella celebrated her confirmation while wearing her mother’s white suit.

Prince Vincent

Prince Vincent

By a few minutes, Prince Vincent is fourth in line to the throne, born on Jan. 8, 2011, with his twin sister Princess Josephine.

Princess Josephine

Princess Josephine

Born on Jan. 8, 2011, Princess Josephine is the youngest child of Fredrik and Mary.

She is fifth in line for the throne and lives with her parents and siblings at the royal residence Amalienborg in Copenhagen and at the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace.

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie

Prince Joachim is the youngest son of Queen Margrethe and Henrik, born on June 7, 1969.

Like his brother, he has had a lengthy military career, from a junior officer in 1987 to a special advisor to the Chief of Defense in the Royal Danish Army.

Joachim has been married twice. He and his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Fredriksborg, married in November 1995. The couple had two children, Nikolai and Felix, before divorcing in April 2005.

Joachim married Marie Cavallier, later Princess Marie of Denmark, in 2008. They share two children: Henrik and Athena.

All four of his children were stripped of their royal titles at the request of Queen Margrethe.

Joachim told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet: “It’s never fun to see your children being mistreated like that. They find themselves in a situation they do not understand. I was given five days’ notice.”

Count Nikolai

Count Nikolai

Born Aug. 28, 1999, Count Nikolai of Monpezat is the oldest son of Joachim and his ex-wife, Alexandra, formerly known as Prince Nikolai of Denmark.

He and his three siblings were stripped of their royal titles in September 2022.

In 2018, he became a model and has since walked the runways for design houses such as Burberry and Dior.

Count Nikolai moved to Australia to study at UTS in 2023.

Count Felix

Count Felix

Count Felix of Monpezat is the younger son of Joachim and his ex-wife, Alexandra and was born Prince Felix on July 22, 2002.

He graduated from Gammel Hellerup Gymnasium High School in June 2021.

Now he is a student at Copenhagen Business School, where he is studying international shipping and trade.

Count Henrik

Count Henrik

Born Prince Henrik on May 4, 2009, Count Henrik is the third son of Prince Joachim and the firstborn to Joachim and Princess Marie.

He is ninth in the line of succession.

Countess Athena

Countess Athena

Born on Jan. 24, 2012, Countess Athena is the youngest child and Joachim’s only daughter.

Weeks after losing her princess title, the royal family honoured her birthday, writing, “Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 11 today.”

The post Who is in the Danish royal family? appeared first on Now To Love.

We’re looking back at Mary Donaldson, the girl from Tassie, and her fairy-tale romance with Frederik the Crown Prince of Denmark.

Today, she is the Crown Princess of Denmark, married to the future king, Prince Frederik, and about to become the Queen of Denmark.

But Mary Donaldson’s road to love began like any other romance. She first crossed paths with Frederik (who introduced himself as “Fred”) at a Sydney CBD pub – the Slip Inn, during the 2000 Olympics.

Unbeknownst to the then 28-year-old, she’d just met the heir to the Danish throne.

Two years later, on October 8, 2003, it was announced that the couple were officially engaged.

Shortly after the engagement, Mary said, “I don’t recall wishing that one day I would be a princess. I wanted to be a veterinarian.”

Mary and Frederik tied the knot on May 14, 2004, at Copenhagen Cathedral in the nation’s capital, where Mary wore a beautiful gown created by Danish designer Uffe Frank.

At the altar, Fred professed his love to the whole world, saying, “From today, Mary is mine and I am hers. I love her and I will protect her with all my love.”

Today, Frederik and Mary have been married for almost 20 years and are the proud parents to four children: Prince Christian (born on Oct. 15, 2005), Princess Isabella (born on Apr. 21, 2007), and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (born Jan. 8, 2011).

In celebration of Mary and Frederik ascending to the throne, we look back at their incredible love story.

Just days after their magical coronation, a royal book has been released including an exclusive interview with King Frederik.

The King took part in a series of interviews about his life for The King’s Word, amid allegations surrounding his marriage.

“I love marriage, my wife, our children and the whole happy base that arises for the people who manage to stay together and persevere.”

He went on to praise Queen Mary for how they “managed to stay together” amidst the drama and rumours that comes with being a royal.

Mary and Frederik arrived at the Traditional New Year’s Banquet arm-in-arm, following the announcement that they would become the King and Queen of Denmark on 14 January 2024.

The couple smiled for the camera at an event in the Netherlands in June 2022.

Mary and Frederik were hand-in-hand while attending Princess Benedikte of Denmarks 75th birthday partyin April 2019.

Mary and Frederik celebrating Frederik’s 50th birthday in May 2018.

Coming full circle! 16 years after meeting during the Sydney Olympics, Princess Mary and Prince Fred supported both Australia and Denmark at the Rio Olympics. Watch Mary talk about the Olympics in the next slide. Gallery continues after the video!

Princess Mary reveals who she will support at the Olympics

Of the moment he proposed, Fred recalls, “We decided we wanted to go to Rome, just to see Rome. And I had never been to Rome before. I thought, “This is the moment. “Seize the day and… get your kneepads on.” And then suddenly, on one of those wonderful areas in Rome, I had to say, ‘This is it, Mary’.”

No one could have predicted a Hobart girl would steal a Danish prince’s heart. Then known as Mary Donaldson, the girl from Tassie first crossed paths with ‘just Fred’ at the Sydney’s Slip Inn pub during the 2000 Olympics.

“The first time we met we shook hands. I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are?'” she recalls.

For the first year of their romance, the couple’s relationship was long-distance, with Fred making secret trips from Copenhagen to Sydney. The couple is pictured here at the 2002 Melbourne Cup.

Fred was a man in love, and the couple married on May 14, 2004, in Copenhagen.

The Danish royals sealed their marriage with an official stamp.

While Mary has embraced Danish culture, Australia will always be a home for the future Queen. But she does miss her childhood love, Fruit Tingles!

Mary recalls when she first met Fred, he’d left an impression… Well, kind of. “Something clicked. It wasn’t the fireworks in the sky or anything like that but there was a sense of excitement.”

That “click” lead to four beautiful kids: Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

The happy parents with their firstborn and heir to the throne behind his dad, Prince Christian.

The Danish royals after the birth of Princess Isabella, in January 2011.

The couple regularly attend royal functions together.

There’s a reason why Princess Mary is considered to be one of the most fashionable royals. Even Chanel’s Karl Lagerfield is a fan of her style.

Mary joked that she “wasn’t allowed to say no” to the engagement.

Fred only had eyes for his Princess.

Proving to be a real-life Prince Charming, Fred said at the altar, “From today, Mary is mine and I am hers. I love her and I will protect her with all my love.” Relive their wedding in the next slide. Gallery continues after the video!

Relive Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik’s wedding day

Not even a glass tank can simmer down these two lovebirds.

The Danish royals know how to have a splendid family vacation.

The couple supporting Denmark at the London Olympics in 2012 (we’re sure Mary was wearing her Aussie colours underneath…).

A loving kiss for his wife.

Regal fashion on point.

In May 2024, the couple will celebrate 20 years of marriage.

Picture perfect!

High-five to Mary and Fred, the ultimate team!

The post Queen Mary and King Frederik’s love story is a real life fairytale appeared first on Now To Love.

It’s a love story we’ll never tire of: The 28-year-old was at Sydney’s Slip Inn pub during the 2000 Olympics, and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark just so happened to be there. The pair started chatting and instantly hit it off, and the rest, as they say, is history.

As a princess, Mary had a lot to learn about royal protocol when she wed into the Danish monarchy, and clothing was a big part of it. Through the years we’ve seen a big change in the Tasmanian local’s style, but she’s taken it all in her stride.

She swapped casual jeans for tailored suits and has built an incredible collection of frocks and evening gowns in the decades since she became a royal – and we can’t get enough of her style.

Take a look at the fashion evolution of Queen Mary as she transformed from a Sydney real-estate agent to a Princess.

Coronation

January 2024, Copenhagen

As she ascended the throne, following the abdication of Queen Margrethe, Mary wore a white Soeren Le Schmidt dress. She paid tribute to the colours of the Danish flag, adding red jewels to her ensemble.

Coronation

January 2024, Copenhagen

Mary’s reign will usher in a new style era, as she transforms her look once more from Princess to Queen.

New Year’s banquet 2024

January 2024, Copenhagen

Less than a day after it was announced she would soon become Queen, Mary stepped out at the New Year’s banquet the epitome of elegance and grace.

November 2023, Copenhagen

The ultimate power suit.

Christmas stamps at City Hall, in Copenhagen

November 2023, Copenhagen

She looked as glamorous as ever when she unveiled the 2023 Christmas stamps in Copenhagen.

Royal Swedish Opera’s jubilee performance

September 2003, Stockholm

Mary stunned in this strapless black and white dress when she attended the Royal Swedish Opera’s jubilee performance alongside Frederik in September 2023.

Coronation

May 2023, London

Princess Mary was a vision in purple at the coronation of King Charles III.

April 2023, Fiji

April 2023, Fiji

Mary wore a beautiful and bright – but also tasteful – dress when she met with Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere and his wife.

April 2023, Milan

April 2023, Milan

The 51-year-old looked elegant in a white and blue pleated skirt and long black sleeve shirt as she attended the 2023 Milan Design Week.

Princess Mary Zanzibar 2022

November 2022, Zanzibar

Princess Mary looked casual but classy during a visit to Zanzibar in November 2022. Opting for a previously worn sage wrap skirt with a tucked in white blouse and metallic gold sandals, the royal glowed as she attended a commission meeting.

September 2022, Denmark

Mary donned this vibrant pink gown for a special royal event at Christiansborg Castle with her husband, Prince Frederik. The stunning David Andersen gown was a recycled style statement, as Mary previously wore it to a gala dinner honouring Denmark’s Armed Forces in September 2017. She also accessorised with the same tiara she wore on her wedding day.

September 2022, New York

Jetting to the US for a rare visit, Princess Mary paired a sleek black blazer with a printed dress from Jonathan Simkhai as she visited Scandinavia House in New York. She added a touch of edge to the frock with a pair of Rockstud Green Leather Pumps by Valentino.

September 2022, Denmark

Princess Mary made one of her most elegant appearances of the year at Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner in an upcycled Jesper Høvring dress, adding an elegant new layer of black lace. She paired it with the Danish Ruby Parure Tiara and matching necklace for a truly regal effect.

September 2022, Denmark

For Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Gala Mary rewore this divine gown by Lasse Spangenberg, accessorising with the iconic Cartier ‘Love’ yellow gold bracelet. She also donned the Ruby & Spinel necklace and tiara for the elegant occasion.

August 2022, Denmark

We love a relatable princess! Mary wore this chic coral suit from Scanlan Theodore with a pair of casual sneakers as she headed to the Presentation of the Ministry of Education and Research’s National Teaching Award. She then changed into a set of nude python pumps by Gianvito Rossi for the event.

Odense Flower Festival August 2022

August 2022, Denmark

Princess Mary caught all eyes on the Odense Flower Festival red carpet in this purple and white floral midi dress from Erdem. With gold accessories and her hair flowing free, the royal owned this elegant look.

March 2022, Denmark

From the cosy CO blouse, to the printed Valentino skirt and knee-high Aquazzura stiletto boots, this was an outfit that cemented Mary’s status as a style icon in 2022.

March 2022, Denmark

Hard at work for the Mary Foundation, the princess gave a masterclass in elegance with this green number by Danish designer Søren Le Schmidt.

February 2022, Denmark

Here Mary poses wearing the traditional Greenlandic national costume in honour of her connection to the nation.

February 2022, Denmark

What a fashionable reunion! Mary donned an all-black outfit with a chic contrasting white coat (which she’s been spotted in before) as she met up with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Copenhagen.

February 2022, Denmark

She can certainly pull off a suit too – this purple velvet Temperley London set went perfectly with her subtle jewels.

January 2022, Denmark

A vocal supporter of sustainable fashion, Mary recycled this embellished pink Claes Iversen coat for an outing to open the exhibition “Mary and the Crown Princesses” before her birthday in 2022.

January 2022, Denmark

The Australian-born royal looked every bit a princess in this divine embellished Lasse Spangenberg gown for a series of official birthday portraits. Up close, the details on her dress, jewellery and tiara – which is Queen Ingrid’s Ruby Parure – are even more gorgeous.

January 2022, Denmark

Mary was the picture of casual elegance in this all-white outfit as she sat for a portrait ahead of her 50th birthday in 2022.

January 2022, Denmark

After a short bout of COVID-19, the princess was back in style for her first royal engagement of 2022, opting for a monochrome outfit with a Gabriela Hearst frock and matching Oscar de la Renta cape.

September 2021, Milan

For a roundtable meeting at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Mary looked youthful and chic in this Carolina Herrera polka dot silk shirt dress.

September 2021, Milan

At a Milan Design Week event where she unveiled her own sustainably made portrait, Mary donned this blush pink Marc Jacobs dress and snakeskin heels.

September 2021, Denmark

Mary stunned in this $265 H&M Conscious dress she had tailored into a skirt. The future queen styled the midi length piece with an off-the-shoulder black top and a pair of $1,225 mesh panelled pumps from Gianvito Rossi.

June 2021, Denmark

For a second soccer match in June, Mary flipped her look, opting for a casual white dress and luxe Alexander McQueen blazer, topping it off with a brown bag by Chloe. She tied the look together with simple brown accessories, including a thin belt and heeled sandals.

June 2021, Denmark

Mary showed us the power of a monochromatic look at a UEFA EURO 2020 match between Denmark and Finland in June. Pairing a red Hugo Boss blouse with a pair of slacks in the same shade and a matching bag, Mary set off the all-red look with a chic cream coat.

May 2021, Denmark

Mary went all-out for her son, Prince Christian’s confirmation in May, donning a chic Iris and Ink satin polka dot dress and matching navy fascinator. She completed the look with a pair of nude, point-toe pumps, which really are her staple shoe. The Crown Princess also wore a family heirloom brooch known as the Connaught sapphire brooch, which has been in the Danish royal family since the 1870s.

April 2021, Denmark

The Crown Princess donned this chic tailored pantsuit for a visit to the UNFPA State Of World Population Report Release in April, 2021 in Denmark. She paired her menswear-inspired ensemble with grey point-toe pumps, a long necklace and – of course – a face mask to complete her look.

September 2020, Denmark

Mary’s chic blazer was a crowd favourite, as it was an elevated version of the classic staple. The Max Mara style features a mock neck and zipper closure, and Mary added a smart black and gold belt to create extra definition at her waist.

September 2020, Denmark

Mary kept it low-key for the official inauguration of the Australian War Monument on September 17, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Styling her hair into a sleek up-do, the future queen paired a tailored black blazer with a patterned Ralph Lauren dress and her signature nude heels.

August 2020, Denmark

For an August engagement by the sea, the princess wore the classic combination of a black skirt and white blouse. She mixed it up by wearing a shirt with small puff sleeves and a delicate pattern across it, opting for black wedge sandals over her usual closed-toe pumps.

June 2020, Denmark

Mary donned a sleek a-line dress for the opening of an art exhibition celebrating Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in June, 2020. Featuring a belted waist, button-up neckline and demure short sleeves, Mary looked radiant in the cream Belulah style, which she paired with matching pumps and a contrasting clutch.

13

April 2020, Denmark

Mary shared this rare photo from inside the Danish Palace, revealing her working from home set up during lockdown. She was attending a virtual board meeting of her charity organisation The Mary Foundation, wearing a sweet neutral sweater and minimal makeup. She looks fabulous even while in isolation!

13

March 2020, Denmark

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Princess Mary stayed connected with her fans on social media, providing an insight into how she and her family were coping in lockdown. She shared this lovely family portrait with Frederik and their four children on the official Danish royal family’s Instagram account.

And she proved that even while she’s keeping things casual at home, Mary still looked incredibly stylish in this chic knit and jeans outfit – she even matched her boots to her jumper!

CPM Pant suit

March 2020, Denmark

The Crown Princess looked incredible in this chic pant suit – with a red coat twist! Attending a launch with The Mary Foundation, the Danish royal turned heads as she was snapped entering the event.

Mary in Paris – October 2019 – 3

And a few hours later, her evening look knocked it out of the park once again – we’re obsessed with this cap-sleeved blue embroidered gown!

Mary in Paris – October 2019 2

To wrap up the whirlwind tour, Mary wore one of the world’s most iconic textured fabrics in the most appropriate place – Chanel-esque tweed, which was born and bred in Paris!

Mary in Paris – October 2019 – 4

On Day two, Mary looked elegant in this beautiful white long-sleeved frock.

Mary in Paris – October 2019 – 5

She followed up a stunning start to the Parisian tour by wearing a gorgeous polka dot number later that evening. Frederik couldn’t keep his eyes off her!

Mary in Paris – October 2019

October 2019, Paris

Parisian perfection! Crown Princess Mary kicked off a three-day tour of Paris in October 2019 wearing this gorgeous blue and white midi dress.

Crown Princess Mary October 2019

October 2019, Denmark

Jackie Kennedy reborn! The Crown Princess channelled sixties chic at the official opening of the Danish Parliament.

Mary September 2019

September 2019, Norway

She may be a Danish royal but Mary honoured her Aussie roots with this stunning Zimmerman dress at the confirmation ceremony of Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

mary august 2019

August 2019, Denmark

The future Danish queen isn’t afraid to re-wear clothes though, including this stunning orange H&M frock.

Floral headpiece

June 2019, Denmark

Mary rocked the hell out of this gorgeous floral headpiece in June at the celebrations of the 800 year anniversary of the Danish flag in Vordingborg, Denmark. We’re filing this picture away for inspiration when the Spring Racing Carnival rolls around!

Tartan 2

March 2019, Texas

While on an official royal visit to Texas, Crown Princess Mary wore a trendy green and black tartan coat – not unlike similar tartan styles worn by Duchess Meghan and Princess Catherine in the past!

Mary Hair

December 2018, Latvia

Princess Mary ended 2018 by debuting a brand new up-do hair style while attending an official dinner. Styled with a burgundy coat, the brunette couldn’t have looked more chic!

2018 August Copenhagen

August 2018, Copenhagen

From board shorts to this stunning red dress, there’s no denying it: Princess Mary has officially nailed royal style.

2017 September copenhagen

September 2017, Copenhagen

This soft one-shoulder style looks stunning on the Princess.

2017 August Copenhagen

August 2017, Copenhagen

Pictured walking with her two daughters, the Princess looks radiant.

2014 June Luzech France

June 2014, Luzech

This stunning emerald gown gives us all the holiday vibes.

2012 Luxembourg October

October 2012, Luxembourg

This hat and dress combo ticks all the boxes.

2009 March New York

March 2009, New York

Again, the Princess can’t help but risk a bold print!

2008 May Iceland

May 2008, Iceland

An interesting print broken up with a (highly necessary) fur trimmed jacket.

2005 March Sydney

March 2005, Sydney

Again with the satin, we almost need some sunnies just to get through this gallery.

2005 March Sydney

March 2005, Sydney

It’s pink and black, it’s satin, it’s floor-length and it’s utterly chic.

2005 February Sydney

February 2005, Sydney

The boardies are back and we can’t fault her for staying true to her origins.

2005 February Sydney

February 2005, Sydney

Back on home soil, the Princess clearly felt comfortable to casual things up.

2004 May Copenhagen wedding

May 2004, Copenhagen

The Aussie-born princess married her real-life Prince Charming and the whole world swooned.

2004_May Christiansborg

May 2004, Christiansborg

We’ve noticed Mary is partial to an all-beige palette, but this time it took a slightly warmer turn into orange territory.

2004_ May Copenhagen 2

May 2004, Copenhagen

Crown Princess Mary, who was weeks out from her wedding at this stage, absolutely stunned in this ravishing red ensemble.

2004 May Copenhagen

May 2004, Copenhagen

Jacket? Tick. Dress? Tick. Hat? Tick!

2004 May Copenhagen

May 2004, Copenhagen

The year was 2004 and Mary was bang on trend with this blazer, jeans and stiletto combo.

2004 january Copenhagen

January 2004, Copenhagen

Another day, another satin gown for the Princess!

2003 October Denmark

October 2003, Denmark

Did you even live in 2003 if you didn’t wear a satin dress to a formal occasion?

2002 November Melbourne Cup

November 2002, Melbourne

From square-shaped sunnies to the semi-transparent hat, this look captures true early 00’s style.

The post From small-town Aussie to international royal: Queen Mary’s style evolution appeared first on Now To Love.

Unlike the crowning of King Charles III in 2023, the “proclamation of new reign” was a low-key affair at Christiansborg Palace. According to Royal Central, the Danish tradition has been in place since the early 1900s and involves the Prime Minister proclaiming each new monarch on the balcony of the Danish palace.

On January 14 at 3pm, the new King appeared on the balcony at Christiansborg, where he was met with cheers from thousands of royal enthusiasts surrounding the palace.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen joined the new King on the balcony, where she thanked Queen Margrethe II of Denmark before proclaiming the new King and saying “long live King Frederik the 10th.”

Frederik was visibly overcome with emotion, wiping away tears before delivering a moving speech.

“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” he said. “It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy.”

The King was then joined on the balcony by Mary and their four children, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

Mary wore a white Soeren Le Schmidt dress, featuring a mock shawl detail on the fit-and-flare style. She also opted for shades of red in her jewellery, featuring pieces from the Danish Ruby Parure.

Queen Margrethe’s own proclamation announcement was very similar when she acceded to the throne on 14 January 1972, exactly 52 years to the day before Frederik becomes King.

The main difference between Margrethe’s and Frederik’s proclamations was the nature of the occasion. As Queen Margrethe chose to abdicate, it was certainly a much happier occasion than when Margrethe became Queen following her father, King Frederik IX’s death.

The ‘coronation’ was be very different from King Charles’s coronation last year. World leaders and dignitaries were not involved in the succession ceremonies, ending the discussion that the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would be travelling to Copenhagen.

“On 14 January 2024, Her Majesty the Queen steps down as Queen of Denmark and entrusts the throne to His Royal Highness The Crown Prince,” the palace wrote in a statement outlining the events that would later unfold.

The schedule started at 11:00 PM AEST when the succession of the throne took place and Queen Margrethe departed.

At midnight AEST, the Danish Prime Minister proclaimed Frederik and Mary as King and Queen on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace.

And finally, at 03:00 AM AEST, there were firework displays above the skies of Copenhagen.

Denmark’s royal family did originally participate in grand coronations.

The first Danish coronation took place in 1170 with the ascension of King Canute VI, according to Tatler.

However, the practice changed in 1660 when Denmark’s monarchy became an inherited system rather than an elective system. After the switch of systems, Kings and Queens were no longer crowned but were still anointed in an official coronation ceremony. This occurred until 1849 when the Danish monarchy became constitutional.

You can read more about the history of the Danish royal family here.

Queen Margrethe’s abdication certainly came as a surprise as she previously said she would rule for the entirety of her life, and the last Danish monarch’s abdication was in 1146.

In a statement from the Danish royal family, they said, “When HM The Queen abdicates at the Council of State on Sunday, 14 January 2024, it will be the first time in nearly 900 years that this has happened in Denmark – thus, it will be an extraordinary and historic event.”

Abdications and more low-key crowning ceremonies have become a lot more common in European monarchies, including Sweden, Spain and The Netherlands.

In recent years, the U.K. and Japan have staged elaborate coronations and stuck with tradition, but it is certainly becoming more commonplace for royal families to be more fuss-free.

The post King Frederik X and Australian-born Queen Mary have ascended the Danish throne appeared first on Now To Love.

This means that her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, will become the new King on 14 January. But his brother, Prince Joachim, will be attending the event alone.

It has been revealed that Prince Joachim’s wife, Princess Marie, and his four children will not be making the trip to Copenhagen to see Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary be crowned.

Prince Joachim shares his two eldest children, Nikolai (24) and Felix (21), with his ex-wife Alexandra, and his two youngest, Henrik (14) and Athena (11), with his current wife Princess Marie.

One of the final changes Queen Margrethe made in her reign was an effort to “slim down” the Danish royal family.

This “slimming down” essentially involved removing royal titles from extended members of the family, notably her youngest son’s children.

Prince Joachim’s four children were stripped of their Prince and Princess titles in late 2022, and instead they were named Counts and Countess.

The statement from the palace at the time wrote, “Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim’s descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued. Prince Joachim’s descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future”.

In response to this change, Prince Joachim said “We are all very sad. It’s never fun to see your children being mistreated like that. They themselves find themselves in a situation they do not understand.”

Queen Margrethe subsequently apologised for the shake-up it caused within the royal family, but stood firm in her decision.

This change in titles has reportedly caused some tension between the Danish royal family, and this tension seems to be further validated by Prince Joachim’s lone attendance to the proclamation of the new King and Queen of Denmark.

Unlike the elaborate affair that was King Charles’ coronation in England, the Danes keep their crowning ceremonies very minimal.

The changeover of monarchs in Denmark will occur on Sunday 14 January, where a simple proclamation of the new reign will be made at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

This will involve the Danish prime minister proclaiming the new monarch on the balcony of the palace, and has been a tradition since the early 1900s.

The schedule will be starting at 11:00 PM AEST when the succession of the throne takes place and Queen Margrethe departs, and at midnight AEST the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, will proclaim Frederik and Mary as the new King and Queen.

Finally, at 03:00 AM AEST, there will be a fireworks display above the skies of Copenhagen to celebrate their new monarch.

The post Prince Joachim to attend Prince Frederik and Princess Mary’s ascension to the throne alone appeared first on Now To Love.

He’s quite a private young man and at only 18 he hasn’t much to do outside of his royal beginnings. So what do we know?

Who is Prince Christian?

Prince Christian is the first born of King Frederik and Queen Mary and therefore, first in line for the Danish throne.

Christian Valdemar Henri John was born on October 15, 2005 in Rigshospitalet at the Copenhagen University Hospital.

He was named Christian because Denmark has a four-century-old tradition of alternating the names Christian and Frederik as Danish kings.

After Christian turned 18, he took the next step forward in becoming King by swearing on the constitution.

This allows him to act as regent if both his parents are prevented from governing.

After Christian signed, it marked the first time that three generations in line of succession were at the Council of State at the same time.

What does his change in position mean for him?

His title has changed to Crown Prince of Denmark but that is not the only difference, he might receive a large royal allowance.

Previously the Danish Royal Palace issued a statement explaining that Prince Christian would not receive any financial aid “until he turns 21 or upon a possible change of throne, if it takes place before that”.

He might increase his public duties now that his parents are King and Queen but for the meantime the palace has made it clear his “main priority in the coming year will be the completion of his upper secondary education”.

Will Prince Christian go to university or military?

It is highly likely that he will undergo some military training just like his father and many other men in the royal family.

As for university, after Christian completes his secondary education, he can decide to go to university like his parent did.

The post The new Danish heir: All about Prince Christian of Denmark appeared first on Now To Love.

They are steeped in tradition and maintaining power with the crown, although they’ve since decided a slimmer monarchy is better. Queen Victoria has ensured that her descendants are royals all across Europe.

How is Queen Margrethe related to Queen Victoria?

Queen Victoria is the ‘grandmother of Europe’ and her lineage is still ruling today.

Queen Victoria gave birth to nine children over 17 years which gave her 42 grandchildren to continue her legacy.

Queen Victoria’s son Prince Arther had a daughter, Princess Margaret who had Ingrid who married King Frederik XI of Denmark. Together they had Queen Margrethe.

how are Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe related?

Since Queen Victoria and Queen Margrethe are related that makes the late Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe distantly related via both Queen Victoria of England and her third cousin King Christian IX of Denmark.

King Christian unsuccessfully asked for Victoria’s hand in marriage but they were still in fact cousins.

Elizabeth and Margrethe had an extremely close relationship over the years, with Margrethe always boasting about how much she looked up to The late Queen of England over the years.

“The way she has faced her duties, the way she is dedicated but also that she does it with a smile.” Queen Margrethe shared about her friend Queen Elizabeth.

It is known that the ones closest to Queen Margrethe referred to her as ‘Daisy’ including Elizabeth and in return, Margrethe called her ‘Lilibet’.

Is Prince Philip related to Queen Margrethe of Denmark?

Prince Phillip was born Prince of Greece and Denmark making him and Margrethe cousins through Queen Victoria and her Danish ancestor.

Not only their ancestry but they were also related through marriage.

His great-nephew, now-deposed King Constantine II of Greece married Queen Margrethe’s younger sister Anne Marie.

The post Is the Danish royal family related to other royal families? appeared first on Now To Love.

Crown Prince Frederik will be pronounced King Frederik X during a cabinet meeting, and Princess Mary will also commit her new duties as the queen.

What is the current Danish royal line of succession?

Before 1849 the line of succession for the royal family was hereditary, passed down to the next male descendant.

They moved to a constitutional monarchy, but the male descendant was still favoured. Until 1953, when Denmark voted in favour of female descendants being able to inherit the throne.

This amendment paved the way for Margrethe, the eldest of two sisters, to be crowned Queen.

In 2009, the Act of Succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Denmark was amended to allow the sovereign’s oldest child – regardless of gender- to inherit the throne.

After Prince Frederik ascends the throne, Prince Christian will be first in line for the throne.

If he has a daughter before any sons, she will be the heir to the Danish throne.

Prince Christian’s younger siblings Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine are second, third and fourth in line for the crown.

The fifth place belongs to King Frederik’s brother, Prince Joachim of Denmark and his children, despite their titles being stripped, follow behind him.

The Denmark monarchy will only accept heirs who have received permission to marry from both the monarch and Council of State.

Any children born to unwed offspring are ineligible for the throne and so are their descendants.

And in the unlikely event that no heirs remain in the current line of succession, the Council of State have the power to elect a new monarch, generating a new line of succession.

This is highly unlikely as Denmark’s royal family is one of the oldest monarchies in the world, with Queen Margrethe II’s heritage dating back all the way to Gorm the Old, who died in 958.

The post What is the current order of succession in the Danish royal family? appeared first on Now To Love.

Danish palace sources confirm to Woman’s Day that a big motivation for the monarch’s shock move is to mentor the crown’s new heir, Prince Christian.

While he’s only just turned 18, Christian has been a mainstay in the headlines in recent years – particularly surrounding his love-life.

Straight and narrow

Last year, sources confirmed to Woman’s Day that he was in fact growing close to Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon Two Sicilies after the young pair spent the summer together.

It’s believed Margrethe is now eager to focus her attention on passing on her wealth of experience and knowledge of the royal job to Christian, one of her eight grandchildren.

Margrethe’s mission

“The last thing the family needs is another errant heir,” comments one palace sleuth, who maintains the sovereign “can now focus more of her attention on her grandson, while they both watch his father ascend to the throne”.

“Margrethe’s mission is to show Christian the realities of being a monarch, especially in a modern world where there is growing criticism of their power.”

As for finding a future queen, Christian will be under the watchful eye of his grandmother, with insiders confessing she has big expectations for the teenager to find the “right partner to share his life with”.

“She knows that expending energy on frivolous romances is only going to hurt him in the end,” the source continues.

While Margrethe will be stern, sources acknowledge that she brings about her mentorship with a great sense of understanding of the pressure hanging over an heir to the throne.

“Her Majesty was once a chain-smoking princess who liked to party back in the day, and her marriage was not without issues,” the insider says of Margrethe’s long union with Prince Henrik of Denmark, who died in 2018.

“She understands better than anyone how best to navigate public life,” adds the source, who says Christian and his grandmother share an unbreakable bond.

Farewell to the world’s last reigning queen

An artistic, flamboyant woman known for her former habit of smoking, her dislike of technology and being affectionately nicknamed “Daisy” by her loved ones, Queen Margrethe has made an incomparable mark on Denmark in her 52 years on the throne.

Margrethe’s abdication will be a sad farewell to the world’s last reigning queen, and the longest-serving current monarch in Europe. It’s the first time a Danish monarch has given up the throne since King Eric III in 1146.

Since taking the crown from her late father, King Frederik IX, in 1972, Margrethe has steadily become a beloved and popular figure in Denmark.

Last week, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked the monarch for her “lifelong dedication” to her country, saying, “Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark.”

Margrethe and Queen Elizabeth II were distant cousins and bonded over being the only remaining female sovereigns.

A decade ago, Margrethe described the British royal as “inspiring” and “very important to me.”

Mary’s first week

There’ll be no huge ceremony or grandeur when Prince Frederik and Princess Mary become King and Queen of Denmark, but their first week in the new roles will still be a whirlwind!

Unlike the lavish coronation of Britain’s King Charles, there will be no formal coronation for the Danes.

Instead, on January 14, Fred will be pronounced King Frederik X during a cabinet meeting, before the prime minister presents the new monarchs to the Danish people from a balcony at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

In the low-key ceremony, Mary will also commit to her new duties as the queen.

Alongside Her Majesty Queen Mary, it’s likely that the couple’s eldest son, Christian, will make an appearance under his new title – heir to the throne, His Royal Highness Prince Christian.

The post Queen Margrethe is looking forward to shaping the future heir, Prince Christian appeared first on Now To Love.

“They were being quite flirtatious, but we didn’t know until after the story broke that he was a prince,” Slip Inn’s Justin Tynan tells Woman’s Day in the wake of her big news about becoming the queen of Denmark. “I didn’t know Mary but she did look beautiful and I can totally see why Frederik was having a crack!”

It was a balmy September night in 2000 when Sydney was ablaze with all the colour and fun of the Olympic Games, and one that the then-28-year-old Mary would never forget!

Royal secret

Prince Frederik and his regal entourage of European blue bloods kept his royal lineage a secret from Mary and her flatmate when they joined the group, who were celebrating the Danish women’s handball team winning a gold medal at the popular city venue.

Mary had no idea that the handsome and athletic Fred she was flirting up a storm with was the Crown Prince of Denmark, or that his mates included his younger brother Prince Joachim, his cousin Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Princess Martha of Norway, and King Felipe of Spain (who was then known as the Prince of Asturias).

Mary later confirmed it wasn’t until 30 minutes after meeting in the crowded bar that someone came up to her and said, “Do you know who these people are?”

She later told 60 Minutes, “The first time we met or shook hands, I did not know he was the Crown Prince of Denmark.”

Just the beginning

The Inn’s Justin says he was equally clueless that he was witnessing the beginning of what would become one of the most celebrated royal unions of all time.

“I remember looking at the black Amex and it had Frederik’s name on it and I wondered who he was,” reveals Justin.

And Fred, known internationally as a party prince, was instantly smitten with the confident and bold brunette beauty who cheekily rubbed her hands over the chests of the three princes as the women debated whether hairy or bare chests were sexier.

“They were all having a great time,” shares Justin, who is now the chief operating officer of the Laundy Hotels and a father of three young kids – including his daughter, who was over the moon to discover her dad’s royal connection last week!

Almost two decades after their fairytale wedding, Mary’s long-time friend and bridesmaid Amber Petty tells Woman’s Day she, too, is immensely proud of her friend.

“It’s wonderful news,” she says. “And yes, I’m proud of her, as always.”

The queen-to-be’s beginnings couldn’t have been further removed from Fred’s childhood of playing in palaces.

She was born on February 5, 1972, at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Hobart, the youngest of four children to her Scottish-born parents, mathematics professor John Dalgleish Donaldson and his wife Henrietta, who died in 1997 from complications after heart surgery.

Mary’s childhood was spent playing basketball and hockey and studying music, and learning piano, flute and clarinet in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, apart from a 12-month sabbatical the family spent in Texas when Mary was just two.

She was a student at Waimea Heights primary school before completing her HSC at Taroona High School and Hobart College. She got a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Tasmania and started a career in advertising.

But it was her move to Belle Property as sales director that changed everything because it was her boss, New Zealand property developer Chris Meehan, a keen sailor who knew Fred, who arranged for her to join the party at the Slip Inn with her flatmate, who knew the Prince of Asturias.

Mary and Fred kept their romance a secret for just over 12 months, spending hours on the phone getting to know each other before a Danish magazine broke the news that they were in love.

Mary moved to Denmark in December 2001, started learning to speak Danish and began intense studies on royal protocols and etiquette to equip her for royal life – before Fred presented her with an emerald and ruby engagement ring on October 8, 2003.

“I mean, every child at one stage dreams of being a prince or princess,” she later admitted.

The post From pub to palace: Tassie girl Mary’s fate was sealed when she first met Fred in 2000 appeared first on Now To Love.

Queen Margrethe announced her abdication from the throne during her New Year address this year, and stepped down as the Queen of Denmark on 14 January 2024.

How old is Queen Margrethe of Denmark?

Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid was born on 16 April 1940, making her 83 years old.

Margrethe is the eldest child of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid, and she has two younger siblings, both sisters – Princess Benedikte of Denmark who was born in 1944, and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark (now Queen Anne-Marie of Greece) who was born in 1946.

Margrethe married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967, and the pair had two sons: Frederik and Joachim.

How long has Queen Margrethe been queen?

Queen Margrethe II has reigned as the monarch of Denmark for almost 52 years, and is currently the longest-serving monarch in the entire world.

Margrethe succeeded to the throne on 14 January 1972 following her father’s unexpected death, and was 31 years old when she became Queen.

During her annual New Year’s Address, Queen Margrethe announced that she would be abdicating from the throne, and will step down as the Queen of Denmark on 14 January 2023, exactly 52 years to the day since she became Queen.

The reason for her abdication is as a result of her recent illnesses and injuries. In her New Year’s Address, she said that time had taken its “toll”, and her number of “ailments” had increased, and that she cannot undertake as many duties as she managed in the past.

In the official statement from the Danish Royal Family, they stated “When HM The Queen abdicates at the Council of State on Sunday, 14 January 2024, it will be the first time in nearly 900 years that this has happened in Denmark – thus, it will be an extraordinary and historic event.”

How tall is Queen Margrethe of Denmark?

Queen Margrethe is actually relatively tall, standing at 1.82m or 5 feet and 10 inches tall.

In fact, the entire Danish Royal Family is quite tall with Queen Margrethe’s father being 1.92m tall, and her two sons, Frederik and Joachim, being 1.83m and 1.88m respectively.

Is Queen Margrethe related to Queen Elizabeth?

Thanks to Queen Victoria of England, many of the royal families across Europe are related to one another. Victoria earned herself the nickname ‘Grandmother of Europe’ as she encouraged her children to marry strategically, and many of her nine children married into European royalty.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was related to the late Queen Elizabeth II of England through Queen Victoria as well as King Christian IX of Denmark, and the two monarchs were third cousins.

Does the royal family of Denmark speak English?

In short, yes, the Danish royal family are known to be fluent in English. However, most members of the royal family speak Danish the majority of the time.

The post Who is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark? appeared first on Now To Love.

Continue reading through to find out just exactly how royal and noble titles work in the Danish Royal Family.

Within the immediate royal family, the highest title is King or Queen. At the moment Queen Margrethe II is the reigning Danish monarch, however she has recently announced her abdication from the throne.

This means that her son, the current Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, will become King on 14 January 2023. Alongside him, Frederik’s wife Mary will become Queen Consort of Denmark.

This in turn will mean that their eldest son, Prince Christian, will then become the new Crown Prince of Denmark.

So, essentially, the hierarchy of titles goes King and/or Queen, then Crown Prince and/or Crown Princess, and then Prince and/or Princess. But what comes next?

The current system of Danish titles has been in effect since 1671, and is as follows:

1. Duke and/or Duchess

In Denmark, the title of Duke and/or Duchess is reserved for the Royal family and relatives, and is not part of the “nobility”.

Only two families bear the title of ‘Duke’ in Denmark, and they don’t count as “nobility”: The Dukes of Schleswig who are originally descendants of Gerhard III, and the Duke of Glücksbierg whose title has been passed down through generations of his family since 1818 from the French family, Decazes.

2. Marquess and/or Marchioness

The title of Marquess/Marchioness is quite rare. In fact, Denmark has never had a citizen granted with this title.

In 1709, Frederik IV of Denmark, who was also King of Norway, granted the title Marquess of Lista to an Italian man who died without children and thus the title ended there.

Norway remains the only country in Scandinavia where the title of marquess has been granted.

3. Count and/or Countess

Count and/or Countess seems to be the most popular title within Denmark.

In 2022, a rather shocking change of titles occurred within the immediate royal family, and Queen Margrethe stripped her youngest son’s children of their Prince and Princess titles, changing them to Counts and Countess.

The statement from the Danish royal family stated, “Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim’s descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued. Prince Joachim’s descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future”.

As such, Prince Joachim’s children are now referred to as Count Nikolai, Count Felix, Count Henrik and Countess Athena.

4. Baron and/or Baroness

There are quite a few barons and baronesses in Denmark, and people with the title of baron may pass down this same title to all of their immediate family members.

Barons and baronesses have no real privileges in modern day Denmark, with their titles merely being symbolic and having historical significance.

The post How do titles work within the Danish Royal Family? appeared first on Now To Love.

But you might be wondering: how did the Danish monarchy actually start? Allow us to give you a brief history lesson.

The origins of the Danish Royal Family

So, just exactly how old is the Danish monarchy? It turns out that the royal family of Denmark is one of the oldest in the world, with Queen Margrethe II’s heritage able to be traced all the way back to Gorm the Old, who died in 958.

Back then, the monarchy was elective rather than passed down through generations of family. But in 1660, the elective system was replaced with an inherited system, and thus the royal family as we know it was born.

A key milestone for the Danish monarchy was in 1953, when the Act of Succession was introduced. The Act of Succession basically allowed for the possibility of a female monarch to be crowned, and in 1972 Queen Margrethe ascended to the throne.

The Act of Succession was altered in 2009 by Queen Margrethe herself, to allow the first-born child to become monarch, regardless of gender.

The Danish monarchy today

Today, the Danish royal family remains quite small, with only a handful of family members given official royal titles.

The people with titles include Queen Margrethe II, her sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, their wives Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie, and the Crown Prince and Princess’ children: Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Most members of the royal family live relatively “normal” lives. The children go to public schools, and the family is often seen shopping, eating at restaurants, and riding their bikes like regular ol’ Danes.

You might be thinking, how can they live normal lives when they’re super rich? And just how rich is the royal family?

It turns out that apparently the Danish royal family is not as rich as most other European royal families. The Danish monarchy receives the majority of their income from royal provisions granted to them every year by the Danish government as part of the state budget.

This funding amounts to around DKK 82 million (about $17 million AUD), and is set to cover their yearly expenses – most of which is to pay their employees.

Don’t get us wrong, that’s still an insanely huge amount of money, but compared to, say, the British royal family who reportedly has a networth of over 28 billion pounds, the Danish royal family is certainly towards the lower end.

About the Danish Royal Family

If you’re anything like us, you’re intrigued about more personal details about the Danish royal family.

What is their last name? Where do they live? What religion do they practise? All good questions – and luckily for you, we’ve got the answers.

The Danish royal family don’t have a set last name, but rather the name of the house: Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. It is often referred to simply as the House of Glücksburg.

The Danish monarchy has nine castles around Denmark, but their main residence is Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen. Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and their children spend the majority of their time at Amalienborg Castle.

A requirement for the Danish royal family (especially the monarch) is to be part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark (also known as the Danish National Church). As such, Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and his children all belong to the Danish National Church. Crown Princess Mary also converted to join the Church of Denmark before she became part of the royal family, as she was originally Presbyterian when she lived in Australia.

The post How the Danish Royal Family came to be what it is today appeared first on Now To Love.

Sharing the announcement in her New Year’s Eve address, the 83-year-old monarch stated, “On 14th January, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.”

Following her tenure as Denmark’s longest-reigning royal, Queen Margrethe shared that her son, Crown Prince Frederik, will ascend to the throne as King of Denmark, with wife Crown Princess Mary reigning as Queen.

Speaking on her decision to abdicate the Danish throne, Queen Margrethe revealed that her back surgery in February 2023 was the catalyst for her decision to step away from the throne.

“The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future — whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,” she stated.

“In two weeks time, I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. That length of time would take its time on anyone. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past.”

Following the sudden news, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shared a tribute to the outgoing monarch.

“Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation,” she said in a statement.

The Danish Prime Minister also warmly welcomed the new generation of Danish monarchs to the throne, writing, “The kingdom will have a new regent and a new royal couple. We can look forward to all of this in the knowledge that they are ready for the responsibility and the task.”

While Queen Margrethe may be fondly remembered as the nation’s longest serving royal, her reign also marked a great turning point in the Danish monarchy, with a 1953 constitutional amendment allowing Margrethe to become the first woman to inherit the Danish throne.

Following his ascension, the 55-year-old Crown Prince will be proclaimed as King Frederik X of Denmark. Unlike the British Royal Family, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary will not partake in a formal coronation ceremony. Instead, their ascension to the throne will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on the day of Queen Margrethe’s abdication.

The post Princess Mary to Become Queen of Denmark Following Sudden Abdication appeared first on Now To Love.

So what has the ruggedly handsome man done that has running away from our island home?

The 38-year-old shared how he plans to celebrate his second wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife, Princess Sofia of Sweden.

The royal was attending a seminar in honor of Sweden’s Stenhammardag Day with his father, King Carl Gustav, and the 71-year-old’s dog Brandie when he made the romantic revelations.

Prince Carl, who looked dapper as ever, has a lot to look forward to with Sofia set to give birth to their second child in the coming months.

But for now, his focus is celebrating their wedding milestone.

During the day’s activities he told the Swedish media, “I’m going home and celebrate with my wife and young son.”

Carl professed his everlasting love to Sofia on June 13, 2015, in front of his closest friends, family and nearly all over Europe’s royals including, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

The couple are the proud parents to one-year-old son Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland.

The royal, who shares a huge likeness to Disney’s Prince Eric, addressed the well-wishers after the ceremony.

“You want to celebrate the love, and that shows that Sweden is a warm country,” he said at the time.

Many will notice Prince Carl is on a one-man-mission to prove that fairy-tales are real.

Before he made the former reality star his official princess, he chatted to Sweden’s TV 4, professing, “I don’t think I knew the magic of love before I met Sofia. But ever since I met her, I’ve seen how love can change a person.”

Previous

01:38

Royals

August 26, 2021

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden’s unbelievable road to romance

By bella-brennan

Next

The post Prince Carl Philip reminds the world he’s perfect as he celebrates his wedding anniversary appeared first on Now To Love.

Prince Carl Philip, 37, and Princess Sofia, 32, are already the proud parents to a son called Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland, who will turn one next month.

Alongside a touching family photo of the trio, the statement read: “The birth is expected to take place in September 2017.”

“No changes in the schedule of The Prince Couple’s public engagements are planned during the spring and summer of 2017,” it concluded.

The same day the pregnancy was confirmed, the Swedish Royal Family banded together to make a glittering appearance for an official dinner at the Royal palace in Stockholm.

Just a hint of Sofia’s baby bump could be seen in her deep-red gown, which she teamed with an understated tiara, a silver clutch and a blue sash.

The doting couple adore their son and have taken to parenthood with ease.

Speaking to Swedish publication Svenskdam last year, Sofia described being a mother as “amazing.”

“He is very sweet and well-behaved. He’s a mixture of us both,” she said of her son.

“The first time does take some adjustment. But it’s still absolutely amazing and wonderful,” Prince Carl Philip agreed.

Prince Carl and Princess Sofia’s love story is a truly modern tale that gives Princess Mary and Prince Frederik a run for their money.

After meeting through mutual friends Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland has been with former glamour model and reality star Sofia Hellqvist since 2010.

While eyebrows were raised over Sofia’s former jobs, which include starring in the 2005 dating show Paradise Hotel and racy photo shoots, this pair prove that your past does not define your future.

Flashback! Watch Sofia as a reality TV star in the player below. Post continues after the video…

On June 13, 2015, the stunning couple tied the knot in Stockholm’s Royal Palace chapel in a lavish ceremony.

It marked the first time a Swedish citizen became a princess in over a hundred years. Sofia has now inherited the title Princess Sofia of Sweden, Duchess of Värmland. “It shows Sweden is a warm country with lots of love,” a proud Prince Carl remarked on his wedding day.

Congratulations to the Swedish Royals, we can’t wait to meet your new bundle of joy.

Previous

Royals

February 23, 2018

Sweden’s Princess Estelle celebrates her sixth birthday with a royal sugar rush

By Now to Love

Next

The post Royal baby alert! Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia announce second pregnancy appeared first on Now To Love.

In Princess Mary’s home of Denmark, they have three major marriage milestones: Gold is 50 years, Silver is 25 and Cooper is 12½ years.

The exciting tradition, which dates back to the 1800s, sees couples – royal or not- celebrate their achievement with their family, friends and neighbours.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary rung in their copper anniversary on November 14.

The unique Danish tradition gets family and friends of the couple form a half arch, to mark their quarter-century of love.

And the loved up duo stuck to the highly celebrated Danish tradition, followed the protocol to a tee!

The pyjama-clad couple woke early to joyous singing feigning surprise before enjoying a copper wedding breakfast, which no doubt included a piece of kransekage, a special almond cake.

The Danish Royal Family’s Facebook page shared the touching moment of the pair being woken up by their guests under a stunning archway with a commemorative plaque in their honour.

“Family and friends had this morning 6.30 wake-up at the palace to mark the day,” Kongehuset penned alongside the snap.

To continue the festivities, a slew of flashback photos and videos from their 2004 wedding day on May 14 were shared via the Danish Royal Family’s social channels.

This was a huge milestone for Mary and Fred, who earlier this year released a new stamp featuring the pair and their kids — Prince Christian, 11, Princess Isabella, nine, and five-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

“The stamp marks the Crown Prince Couple’s copper wedding on November 14th 2016. The ceremony in May 2004 took place in Copenhagen Cathedral and the wedding festivities were held at Fredensborg Palace,” a message on the royals’ Facebook page read.

Scroll to the end of the article and relive the magic of Australia’s Princess Mary and Prince Frederik’s fairy-tale romance

Previous

00:45

International Royals

January 17, 2024

Queen Mary and King Frederik’s love story is a real life fairytale

By Woman's Day team

Next

The post Princess Mary and Prince Fred’s copper wedding anniversary appeared first on Now To Love.