Princess Mary, Frederik ‘at freezing point’ amid shock claim
The future King and Queen appeared distant during royal formalities amid claims the coronation was fast-tracked to save their marriage. See the images.
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Princess Mary “did not bring her smile” to a formal appearance with Prince Frederik amid a coronation countdown that a royal expert claimed was fast-tracked to save their marriage.
The Crown Prince and Princess stepped out in full military regalia and formal dress during a New Year reception at the Christiansborg Palace.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet said press in attendance reported that “the couple did not look like they were enjoying themselves”.
“Words were exchanged between the two, and it didn’t look like they wished each other good luck”, the paper reported.
“The mood was at freezing point, and Denmark’s future queen in particular looked particularly tight” it added.
“Not even in the Hall of Knights, where the royal couple stood side-by-side, did Mary look like someone who was delighted to soon be able to call herself Denmark’s Queen.”
It comes after prominent royal expert speculated the reason for the surprise abdication of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II is due to unsubstantiated rumours of an affair between her son, Crown Prince Frederik, and Mexican actress and socialite, Genoveva Casanova.
SHOCK CLAIM ABOUT MARY’S MARRIAGE
Australian-born Princess Mary’s ascent to the Danish throne was fast-tracked to shift focus from allegations of her husband’s infidelity, it has been claimed.
The 85-year-old Queen announced she would be stepping down on January 14 during her live new year’s address to the nation. Her eldest son Prince Frederik would then ascend the throne as King, with Australian-born Princess Mary to become Queen.
Recently, Crown Prince Frederik has come under scrutiny for his friendship with Ms Casanova.
In November last year, he was photographed with the actress, attending an art exhibition and having dinner together.
More photographs allegedly showed the Crown Prince leaving Ms Casanova’s apartment the morning after the dinner.
The Palace has not commented on the rumours. Ms Casanova has vehemently denied any romantic relationship with the heir to the Danish throne.
In a legal letter posted on Instagram last year, she slammed the “malicious” rumours suggesting the pair were romantically involved.
“It’s possible that the Queen took this action because she would have been terrified of the marriage breaking up and the royal family losing Mary,” author and commentator Phil Dampier told UK’s The Telegraph. Mr Dampier has reported on the royal family for the past 20 years.
“It would have caused major problems. The Queen has always seen Mary as a tremendous asset,” he continued.
“It just seems an extraordinary coincidence that she should make this unexpected announcement just a couple of months after stories emerged of the Crown Prince supposedly having an affair.
“In two weeks’ time, the Prince and Princess will be pitched together as King and Queen and they will have to get on with it. The Queen may be thinking that they will patch up their differences and it will save their marriage.”
Mr Dampier went to say that most Danish people were shocked by the abdication because the Queen had previously said the role was her job for life.
“It seems strange that it happened so soon after the rumours of an affair,” he said.
“The prince was known as a playboy in his youth – maybe she worried that he was going back to his old ways.”
Originally published as Princess Mary, Frederik ‘at freezing point’ amid shock claim
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