PETA has slammed Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik for their involvement in a recent hunting event that saw dozens of deer killed, deeming it ‘insensitive’ and a ‘poor parenting decision’.
The annual ‘King’s Hunt’ was hosted by the Danish royal family on Monday, with a ‘hunting parade’ which saw the prince walking through rows of slaughtered deer and the princess and Queen Margrethe standing in front of the deer carcasses, smiling and chatting with other members of the crowd.
In a statement supplied to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the animal rights charity said there was ‘nothing noble’ about the Danish royal family’s involvement and the hunt.
Others online have said the family’s involvement is ‘selfish’ and ‘barbaric’.
The Danish Royal Family are pictured in the centre of the image overlooking the carcass of a slaughtered deer during the annual ‘King’s Hunt’ celebration after being criticised by PETA and people online
After the hunt, organised by Prince Frederik, the deer were laid out in the courtyard of the Fredensborg Palace on the island of Zealand
Prince Frederik can be seen stepping through rows of the shot animals during the festivities on Monday. Among his guests for the hunt was the new chairman of the Danish Left Party, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen
‘There is nothing noble about shooting defenseless animals for fun,’ a spokesperson from PETA told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Given the now well-established link between between cruelty to animals and childhood and violent behaviour in adulthood, not only is it insensitive for Prince Frederik and Princess Mary to teach their children that killing animals is acceptable, it’s also a poor parenting decision.
‘Few people today view hunting as anything other than a violent blood sport, a cheap thrill at taking a life and a display of wanton power over the powerless.
‘It is surely the parents’ responsibility to help children grow into compassionate leaders for their country, with respect for all living beings.’
Mary, pictured right, is married to Prince Frederik, the first in line to the Danish throne. She will automatically become Queen when he succeeds his mother, Queen Margrethe (left)
PETA weren’t the only people to criticise the royal family’s involvement in the hunt.
Others online said it was ‘so sad for the poor animals’ and that they should ‘stop hunting innocent animals’.
‘Mary, you’re Australian and should know better,’ one person posted.
‘STOP this barbaric hunting of innocent animals. It is an affront to civilised people everywhere!’
Another added: ‘So sad to hear that the Danish are so selfish and cruel’.
Others were quick to say the event is a ‘Danish tradition and culture’, and the Danish royals should be excused.
During the event, vehicles and buildings are provided to the royal family to help towards the success of the hunt. Queen Margrethe (right), 80, can be seen during the parade on Monday
The Danish royal family hosted the ‘King’s Hunt’ on Monday, leading an entourage of prominent guests and other members of the royal family through the Gludsted Plantation in central Jutland.
After the hunt, the prince, his wife Crown Princess Mary, Queen Margrethe, and their guests, stood outside the Fredensborg Palace for a traditional hunting parade.
According to a Danish law, the royal family are given the sole right to hunt in around one third of the country’s forests.
During the ceremony, it is traditional for the yield from the hunt to be read aloud, followed by a toast to the hunters.
Official royal hunts in the Danish state forests take place every year during the hunting season, which run from the start of October to mid January.
The King’s Hunt comes weeks after the Hubertus Hunt, held at the Hermitage Palace, north of Copenhagen.
The royal family can be seen congratulating members of the hunting party during the festivities on Monday
The Danish royals were there to greet tens of thousands of people who had turned out to watch the iconic 13 kilometre cross-country horse race which marks the end of the hunting season.
The couple have also attended the game parade with their twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, who were five at the time.
The decision to take their children to the hunt, which involve inspecting slain deer, was also criticised at the time by animal rights activists.