Queen Mary of Denmark surprises guests with honest and open speech about happiness

Australian-born Queen Mary has surprised guests as she spoke of the joys and sorrows of parenthood in an address to mark the release of a comprehensive Danish study on quality of life.

Queen Mary has spoken of the joys and sorrows of parenthood in an address to mark the release of a large study on quality of life.

The Aussie-born Danish royal gave the address at Realdania’s conference “Our Quality of Life” in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Guests appeared surprised by the Queen’s honest and open speech at the event to release the findings of the comprehensive study on quality of life and coinciding with the International Day of Happiness on March 20.

The philanthropic association’s study polled 122,000 people in Denmark asking them about factors affecting their happiness.

Wearing a ’60s-inspired collared Prada dress, the Queen spoke about the impact of parenthood, surprising the audience with the opening question: “Overall, how satisfied are you with your life right now?”

Queen Mary spoke of the joys and sorrows of parenthood at the Our Quality of Life conference in Copenhagen. Picture: Getty

The royal continued: “This is one of the questions behind the comprehensive study of quality of life that Realdania's is publishing today (and which you are reading).”

She continued: “How many people here have children? You know the joys – and sorrows – of parenthood.

“Studies show – to my great surprise – that new parents’ happiness in life drops quite significantly and only levels out when the children move away from home. Yet we would never trade our children for anything … almost never.

“Having children is a good example of how meaning in life does not always coincide with the greatest possible joy in life.”

Mary was bright and happy at the event. Picture: Getty

Mary greets officials at Realdania's Our Quality of Life event. Picture: Getty

Queen Mary and King Frederik have four teenage children – Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Prince Christian spent three months in East Africa late last year working on two farms and learning about conservation as part of his gap year.

Princess Isabella will celebrate her 18th birthday next month with a special youth-centred event and a theatre performance.

Queen Mary has long been an advocate for women and children and gives much of her time to issues relating to health and mental health.

Queen Mary looked chic in a ‘60s-inspired collared Prada dress. Picture: Getty

Before becoming Queen, she set up The Mary Foundation in 2007.

It aims to improve the lives of children, adults and their families who become socially isolated or are socially excluded by others as a result of their environment.

AMBITIOUS ROYAL TOUR

The King and Queen announced they will be embarking on an ambitious royal tour together in coming months.

The announcement came after a bright-eyed Mary was pictured smiling and laughing with students at a school after resurfacing for the first time since she pulled out of a royal engagement at the Danish Heart Association at the 11th hour citing a mystery illness.

Queen Mary of Denmark is welcomed by students at Pilehaveskolen as she participates in the School Force visit. Picture: Getty Images

Everyone was relieved to see Mary looking so well. Picture: Getty Images

Worries for the Queen swirled given how uncharacteristic it was for her to make a non-appearance at the event.

“It has been a pleasure to experience the work of Pilehaveskolen with the School Force,” Queen Mary said following her visit to Arrow School in Vallensbæk.

“The school’s experiences and the student council’s suggestions emphasise once again for me how central it is to engage children and young people in questions about their everyday lives. “They are the ones who experience it first-hand if wellbeing in class is bad and bullying is taking place. Therefore, they need to be heard. In Mary Fonden (Queen Mary’s foundation) we have only good experiences with engaging children and young people in our work.”

Queen Mary has long advocated for education initiatives. Picture: Getty Images

The students were captivated by Mary. Picture: Getty Images

The Danish royals will be visiting the Faroe Islands – an autonomous Danish territory comprised of 18 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Debates about seeking independence from Denmark have raged in the Faroe Islands over the years with plans for a referendum on the subject shelved in 2001.

Mary, Frederik and all four of their children previously visited the Faroe Islands in 2018 before taking the throne.

The royals lasted visited the islands in 2018. Picture: Kongehuset/Instagram

The royals can't wait to revisit the picturesque territory. Picture: Getty Images

The upcoming tour, which will take place in June after being delayed since 2024, came as a relief to fans of the Aussie born Queen who were concerned after she uncharacteristically bowed out of a commitment to attend the Danish Heart Association’s events in Copenhagen at the last minute, citing an unnamed illness.

“Their Majesties The King and Queen will visit the Faroe Islands the days of 11-13 June 2025,” an announcement from the Palace reads.

“Prime Minister Aksel V Johannesen hosts Their Majesties’ first official visit, which was to have been carried out in connection with the cruise of the Realm in June 2024.

“The King and Queen will visit Tórshavn, Vágur, Fámjin, Tvøroyri and Eiði. Here, The King and Queen will have the opportunity to revisit many sides of Faroese society and greet Faroese Islanders of all ages.”

Village of Mikladalur located on the island of Kalsoy, Faroe Islands, Denmark

Torshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands.

Speaking on Queen Mary’s inability to attend the Heat Association events, the Danish Royal House’s Communications Department stated, “Her Majesty the Queen, like many others right now, has become ill, and therefore unfortunately cannot participate in the Heart Association’s award ceremony.”

Queen Mary of Denmark has been forced to cancel royal engagements after being struck down with an undisclosed illness. Picture: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP

On the Royal Family’s official Instagram account, the Queen posted a touching message to those who had sent well wishes.

The post was accompanied by a picture of a get-well card and flowers sent by young twin girls Alma and Ellen, who she had met at the Heart Association awards.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” the Queen wrote.

“What a lovely surprise to receive this bouquet and drawings, even though illness prevented me from participating in the Danish Heart Association’s event ‘Together for the Heart.’

“I had been looking forward to presenting the Heart Award together with the heart children Alma and Ellen and to meeting some of the young people living with heart disease.

“Hopefully we can meet another time.”

She also congratulated the healthcare workers at the heart clinics which received the Heart Award 2025 and thanked them and “all those who make a difference in the field of heart every day.”

Originally published as Queen Mary of Denmark surprises guests with honest and open speech about happiness