Danish royal family continue their visit to the Faroe Islands

It may still be August, but the Danish royals were forced to wrap up against a wintry chill as they continued their tour of the Faroe Islands.

Leading the way was Crown Princess Mary, 46, casually clad in a gilet and cosy grey knit with a woollen beanie. 

She was joined by husband Crown Prince Frederik and their children Princesses Josephine, 7, and Isabella, 11, plus Princes Christian, 12, and Vincent, 7. 

While the young princesses were on their best behaviour, their brothers were clearly in a mischievous mood, tussling play-fighting for the cameras as their parents looked on.  

The family is paying a four-day visit to the Danish island after the couple touched down in the Island’s capital of Tórshavn on Thursday.

 

Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary is joined by her daughter, seven-year-old Princess Josephine, on the second day of the royal family’s visit to the Faroe Islands archipelago

Denmark's Princess Isabella, right, and her little sister Princess Josephine snuggle up to keep warm amid chilly temperatures in the Danish archipelago on Friday

Denmark’s Princess Isabella, right, and her little sister Princess Josephine snuggle up to keep warm amid chilly temperatures in the Danish archipelago on Friday

While the young princesses were on their best behaviour, Princes Christian and Vincent were in a mischievous mood

The brothers were seen tussling play-fighting for the cameras as their parents looked on

While the young princesses were on their best behaviour, Princes Christian and Vincent were in a mischievous mood, tussling play-fighting for the cameras as their parents looked on

Prince Christian and Prince Vincent play fighting in the Faroe Islands on Friday. The family is paying a four-day visit to the Danish island after the couple touched down in the Island's capital of Tórshavn on Thursday

Prince Christian and Prince Vincent play fighting in the Faroe Islands on Friday. The family is paying a four-day visit to the Danish island after the couple touched down in the Island’s capital of Tórshavn on Thursday

Crown Princess Mary was joined by husband Crown Prince Frederik (pictured) and their children Princesses Josephine, 7, and Isabella, 11, plus Princes Christian, 12, and Vincent, 7

Crown Princess Mary was joined by husband Crown Prince Frederik (pictured) and their children Princesses Josephine, 7, and Isabella, 11, plus Princes Christian, 12, and Vincent, 7

Family portrait! Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent pose in front of the statue of the Selkie (Seal Woman) during their visit to the Faroe Islands on Friday

Family portrait! Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent pose in front of the statue of the Selkie (Seal Woman) during their visit to the Faroe Islands on Friday

Steeped in controversy: The family's visit came just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands

Steeped in controversy: The family’s visit came just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands

There the Crown Prince Couple participate in an official greeting ceremony on the quay, where the prime minister will deliver a speech welcoming them before paying a visit to the rowing club Knørrur. 

They will later visit the government buildings on the Tinganes peninsulal. They will take part in a second welcoming ceremony at the square Vagli in the city centre.

The family’s visit came just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands.

Every summer, some 800 pilot and beaked whales, as well as dolphins, are killed for their meat across the Faroe Islands, a Danish archipelago located hundreds of miles off the Scottish coast between Norway and Iceland. 

Motherly love: Crown Princess Mary shared a tender moment with her youngest son, Vincent

Motherly love: Crown Princess Mary shared a tender moment with her youngest son, Vincent

The Danish royal couple with their four children. The family's visit came just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands

The Danish royal couple with their four children. The family’s visit came just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands

Whale driving on the Faroe Islands date back to the late 16th century and involve residents herding pods of whales into shallow waters.

They are then killed using a ‘spinal lance’ that is inserted through the animal’s neck to break its spinal cord. 

Locals carry out the hunts ahead of the sparse winter months, with the meat served salted or cut into steaks and the blubber sliced up and eaten raw.

The family of six arrived on the Faroe islands for the start of their four-day visit on Thursday.

Princess Josephine looked rather morose as she wrapped up against the autumnal chill

Princess Josephine looked rather morose as she wrapped up against the autumnal chill

Prince Christian looked all grown up as he explored the Faroe Islands with his family on Friday

Prince Christian looked all grown up as he explored the Faroe Islands with his family on Friday

Mary, along with the rest of the family, was dressed in traditional Faroe costume in honour of her visit.

She and her two daughters wore the female dress of a dress and open sweater laced together using silver buttons and finished with a cape.

Meanwhile her husband and their two sons wore a waistcoat and felt coat with silver buttons, blue stockings and the famous floppy hat.

The family travelled from their home in Copenhagen by boat waving to the islanders as they approached the shore.

The family were greeted by the island’s locals who had gathered in anticipation of their arrival, presenting Mary with an elegant posy as she stepped from the boat.

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