Mystery in Denmark: From July 20th to 23rd, Crown Prince Christian had to take over his father’s duties. Why? It was unknown. Until now! The secret has been revealed: King Frederik and Queen Mary simply took a break.
At just 18 years old, having just completed his high school diploma, Prince Christian was thrown into the deep end: he has already twice stood in for King Frederik, 56, as the acting regent. The first time was shortly after Queen Margrethe, 84, handed over the throne to her eldest son when he was visiting Poland with a business delegation in late January. The second time was last week. The reason why the Crown Prince took over the scepter remained a palace secret until now. Clever paparazzi have now provided the explanation.
King Frederik and Queen Mary Relax and Unwind
The photos tell a story of much-needed relaxation. The images, published by the British paper “Daily Mail” on July 26th, show King Frederik and Queen Mary, 52, at the beach in Sardinia. In Porto Cervo, a popular and exclusive holiday destination on the Costa Smeralda, the royal couple took a few days to unwind.
Elegant robes and formal suits were left at the palace. Frederik and Mary blended in with other vacationers, living practically in swim trunks and bikinis, seeking refreshment in the sparkling turquoise sea, and enjoying a good book on the sun lounger.
It was a small escape just before their next engagements. On Thursday, July 25th, the royal couple traveled to Paris to attend the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics the next day. The schedule is tight. They granted themselves just three days of supposed anonymity and freedom.
A Challenging Start to the Year
The past six months have been tough for Frederik and his wife. Amid wild rumors of crisis in their marriage, Margrethe’s firstborn had to replace his mother on the throne. A sudden transition with a rocky start.
When the Danish queen announced her abdication at the turn of the year, Frederik and Mary probably had barely processed their new roles. The Danish people, even the world, were literally caught off guard. It was a phase that the future king had already gone through by then.
On January 14th, Frederik was proclaimed King of Denmark. Despite the headlines about an alleged affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova, 47, which had been swirling since November, the newly crowned monarch and his wife put on a brave face.
Affair Rumors and Holiday Backlash
In late fall of the previous year, the Spanish gossip magazine “Lecturas” published photos of the then Crown Prince walking with the actress in Madrid. Later, it was reported that the royal allegedly stayed at her apartment. Casanova publicly denied the malicious allegations and filed a 400-page lawsuit against the tabloid.
Nonetheless, the public speculation must have cast a shadow over the king’s family life. The public pressure after assuming office didn’t help either. The initial issue: a vacation just weeks after taking the throne. The monarch and his family went on a winter holiday in mid-February, and suddenly, the newly retired Margrethe was back in charge. The Danish public was, to put it mildly, perplexed.
“There was never any indication in Frederik’s calendar that he was ever overworked,” said Kim Bach, a royal expert from “Ekstra Bladet.” “We don’t know what he did outside the calendar, but compared to the number of official working days of his counterparts in other royal houses, Frederik is clearly at the lower end of the scale.” Her sentiments were echoed by others who questioned the new monarch’s commitment. Apparently, it had little effect.
Only a few weeks later, the royal family went on an Easter vacation. Once again, Margrethe stepped in. “The holiday king strikes again: he’s gone off with his family,” raged “Ekstra Bladet.”
New Goals and Fresh Love?
A wake-up call? Apparently. In the meantime, Frederik and Mary seem to have picked up the pace, attending official engagements at home and introducing themselves to European neighbors as the new monarchs.
They have now also laid out a plan for their reign: they aim to handle 400 to 500 official events annually, in addition to the responsibilities of their now reduced 140 patronages from the previous 258.
Their little secret getaway in Bella Italia is likely now forgiven by their countrymen. Frederik and Mary signal a fresh start after a shaky debut, looking radiant and lovingly connected at their first Olympic appearance in Paris after their well-deserved Mediterranean breather. La Dolce Vita seems to have lifted some of the shadows from the couple. The city of love will hopefully do the rest.
