On Sunday, January 14, in the wake of Margaret II’s abdication and just hours before the Danish coronation, royal communications released the official portraits of Frederick and Mary. The king appeared in military attire, while the crown princess wore a blue gown embellished with intricate beading from designer Lasse Spangenberg, the same couture used at the last New Year’s gala. Mary’s jewelry included a headpiece that traces its design to Swedish queen Desirée Clary, set to echo the glamour of Napoleon Bonaparte’s era.
Details of the proclamation of Frederick X of Denmark: dates, times, official acts and heroes
The moment captured in the photographs was not a live moment but a carefully staged filming for Crown Princess Mary’s 50th birthday in 2022, planned by photographer Hasse Nielsen to commemorate the heir’s milestone with the royal couple.
symbolic gesture
The most memorable element of the portrait is not only the balance the couple projects, but the gesture itself. Mary Donaldson grips her husband’s arm with both hands, turning to a three-quarter profile toward the camera, a pose that communicates unity and shared purpose as they face the future together.
Mary Donaldson, a young Australian commoner’s journey to the Danish throne
The portrait session also marks the public arc of Mary’s journey from an Australian commoner to a central figure in a royal succession. Her story, entwined with Danish tradition, has become a defining thread in the nation’s contemporary monarchy, illustrating how modern royal life blends personal history with public duty.
The latest reports around the portraits rest on a broader narrative that followed during an unofficial engagement in Madrid late last year, where Mary and Frederick were photographed during company with notable figures. A Mexican socialite, Genoveva Casanova, became part of broader public chatter about the entourages surrounding the couple at the time.
In an official statement published on the royal house’s website, it was noted that the official portraits of Her Majesty the Queen, Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince Couple, and His Royal Highness Prince Christian may be downloaded for media, municipalities, organizations, associations, companies, and businesses to use in connection with the succession in any manner. The statement invites others who wish to participate in the celebrations to do so as well.