Eagle-eyed fans are gushing over a ‘secret’ detail in Queen Mary of Denmark’s brand new portrait – but many are conflicted over the true meaning.
The photos of the Australian-born Danish queen and King Frederik were taken at Frederik VIII’s Palace in Amalienborg, the couple’s official residence in Copenhagen.
Queen Mary is seen posing in an elegant boat-neck cream dress and diamond earrings.
But many are focused on the queen’s pendant – a delicate ‘F’ – that is adorned around her neck.
Royal house expert Emma Paaske noted how the piece of jewellery provided an insight into the royal couple’s relationship.
In the BT podcast ‘The Royal House behind the scenes’, Paaske said: ‘[Queen Mary] has the necklace with an F in it, so it is very clear that her loyalty lies with Frederik.’
Queen Mary’s necklace is from a jeweller in Halberstadt and she is often photographed wearing it.
The queen is famous for hiding easter eggs in her outfits – with thousands ‘touched’ by her ‘heartfelt tribute’ using a bright orange dress at the annual Maratonsang event in June 2024.
Queen Mary is seen posing in an elegant boat-neck cream dress and diamond earrings – with a delicate ‘F’ necklace around her neck
Hundreds have pointed out that Queen Mary is in front of King Frederik in the portraits
Fans also caused a stir about another peculiar detail in the new civilian portraits.
Hundreds have pointed out that Queen Mary is in front of King Frederik, while they’re shoulder-to-shoulder in their official gala portraits.
‘The gala portraits are a little more formal, so here you put more emphasis on who is the head of state, because they are official pictures that have to hang around,’ historian and royal house expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen told Danish news B.T.
‘With the civilian portraits, more emphasis is placed on personal, civilian life and not on one’s roles.
‘That is why they stick to the more classic, old-fashioned gender roles, and here it is typical that the ladies are ahead of the men.’
Queen Mary of Denmark also recently announced the launch of a podcast about ‘loneliness’ among young people.
Taking to Instagram, King Frederik’s wife posted a photograph of herself listening to a podcast in a pair of black trousers and matching turtle neck jumper.
Sporting a pair of stylish glasses and earphones, the mother-of-four looked engrossed in the podcast as she held her phone in her hands.
Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured) today announced on Instagram that she would be launching a podcast centring on the issue of loneliness among young people
On a cream sofa, next to a side table filled with books, the Australian-born Queen looked typically elegant, with her hair left straight and loose and her features boasting a smattering of glamorous makeup.
The post, when translated from Danish to English, read: ‘I’m extremely excited to be listening to a podcast. I often listen when I have to move from one place to another.
‘Some days I’m in the mood for entertainment and other days I use it to gain knowledge and new input.
‘That is why I am also proud that we have now thrown ourselves into making a podcast in the Mary Foundation.
‘Our first podcast is called ‘Lonely youth’, and through three short episodes it gives a thorough insight into the nuances of loneliness by mixing expertise and personal stories from young people.
‘We know from the study ‘Loneliness in Denmark’ that 73 per cent of 16-19 year olds experience loneliness, whether they are alone or with others. At the same time, 17 per cent of 16-24 year olds feel very lonely.
‘These are heavy numbers that we need to do something about. A podcast is not something we much experience with yet in the Mary Foundation, but I hope you will listen and feel welcome.’
Born out of her desire to make society more inclusive, Queen Mary, 52, launched The Mary Foundation in 2007
Born out of Queen Mary’s desire to make society more inclusive and bring in those who find themselves on the margins, The Mary Foundation was established in 2007.
Mary ‘has always been particularly conscious of the people who are not part of a group, people who feel lonely and are unable to understand why they are excluded from the community,’ reads the foundation’s official website.
The Queen Mary Foundation was created thanks to a 1.1 million kroner national gift raised in Denmark and Greenland and donated in honour of Mary and Frederik’s wedding in 2004.
Mary is following in the footsteps of royals including the Duchess of Sussex, Queen Camilla, and Princess Eugenie in launching a podcast.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk