Four signals Queen Mary & King Frederik send with ‘wooden’ new portrait after affair rumours
A body language expert has interpreted the coded messages in the Danish royals’ first official gala portrait as King and Queen. See the photos.
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The first official portrait of King Frederik and Queen Mary has been unveiled following their ascension to the throne in January and body language expert Judi James says the image is carefully coded to send a specific message.
The Danish royal couple looked resplendent in their finery in the image snapped by photographer Steen Evald in the Green Room at Christiansborg Palace.
James told The Sun the regal shot projects “warmth” and “love”, although she noted: “These are projected at the camera and therefore their country and subjects rather than each other.”
She added: “The secret signals would suggest four important things given the stories around their marriage.
“The facial mirroring suggests like minded thinking which could refer to a shared love of the country they rule over.
“Their proximity suggests a professional unity and ability to work/rule together.
“Mary is slightly in front in this pose though with Frederik’s arm hung behind hers which recognises her high levels of individual importance and status as a very popular royal.
“And those asymmetric smiles suggest they will retain their ability to be accessible and friendly rather than over-formal royals.”
James continued that Mary’s pose is “rather wooden with no suggestion of touch or affection for her husband here.”
The royals will undertake their first state visits to Sweden and Norway next month.
This is the first time Queen Mary has been photographed wearing the crown jewels.
She donned an striking emerald set, complete with the Danish Emerald Parure tiara, necklace, earrings, and large brooch, which is one of four sets of crown jewels available for her use.
Many of the prized emeralds are said to have been in the family since 1723, with the tiara being first commissioned in 1840 for King Christian VII for his wife, Caroline Matilda of England.
The emerald stones compliment Queen Mary’s velvet dark green dress, which features a high neckline and long sleeves.
The intricate design includes neoclassical forms such as flower vines, bows, and curled frames, which were inspired by the French crown jewels of the time.
The crown jewels are only worn in Denmark are usually stored in a secure display at The Treasury at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen — they are never taken abroad.
Queen Mary also wears miniature portrait of The King, set in diamonds with a bow of Order of Dannebrog ribbon, according to a generations-long royal tradition that requires female members of the royal family to wear a likeness of the sovereign.
King Frederik is wearing military dress, and both he and his wife are wearing their honours, including the Order of the Elephant on chains.
King Frederik also wears a number of historical items his predecessors — including his mother, Queen Margrethe — donned during their reigns.
The distinctive marks of the Order of the Elephant include five large, square, flat diamonds shaped as a cross, and it is worn by the monarch for special occasions.
It’s believed the elephant itself was likely created in 1671 for the anointing of Christian V in Frederiksborg Castle Church, while the chain was most likely created in 1693.
He also wore the order’s breast star, created in about 1770.
The King was appointed to the rank of Admiral in the Danish navy and donned his full dress uniform, including a sabre that belonged to his grandfather Frederik IX.
The portrait will be hung in state institutions around Denmark, including at Danish embassies and consulates around the world and on Danish vessels.
The couple ascended the throne on January 14, following the shock abdication of Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe, 84.
King Frederik and Queen Mary, who celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on May 20, are parents to Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 17, and 13-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
It comes as the monarchs were hit with affair rumours after claims Frederik, 55, was involved with Mexican socialite and MasterChef star Genoveva Casanova last November.
Genoveva has insisted claims of any romance are “categorically” untrue – and the royals haven’t commented on the speculation.
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Originally published as Four signals Queen Mary & King Frederik send with ‘wooden’ new portrait after affair rumours
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