Queen Mary and King Frederik commemorate 80th anniversary of Denmark’s liberation

Australian-born Queen Mary has joined her husband King Frederik to mark a significant anniversary for Denmark. See the video, photos.

Queen Mary has joined King Frederik for a solemn service at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen to mark the 80th anniversary of Denmark’s liberation from Germany.

Following the service, the royal couple took part in a memorial ceremony at Ryvangen Memorial Park in Hellerup, north of Copenhagen, where they laid wreaths at the large graveyard in remembrance. They were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, representing the British royal family.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte were also present at the commemoration.

Denmark’s Queen Mary and King Frederik X arrive at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Denmark's liberation at a memorial service in Mindelunden in Ryvangen, Copenhagen. Picture: AP

Denmark’s Queen Mary and King Frederik placing a wreath. Picture: AP

“In Mindelunden, their Majesties the King and Queen honoured the Danes who lost their lives for Denmark during the occupation on Sunday evening,” the Danish royals wrote on Instagram, alongside several photos from the occasion.

“It is 80 years since tonight, that the liberation message reached Denmark.”

The memorial grove at Ryvangen was inaugurated in 1951 and contains the graves of around 200 freedom fighters who lost their lives during the German occupation of Denmark from 1940 to 1945.

Queen Mary of Denmark and King Frederik X of Denmark attend a church service in Vor Frue Church. Picture: Getty Images

The memorial grove at Ryvangen was inaugurated in 1951 and contains the graves of around 200 freedom fighters who lost their lives during the German occupation of Denmark from 1940 to 1945. Picture: AFP

Queen Mary wore a simple navy dress by fashion designer Soeren Le Schmidt, stitched by Birgit Hallstein. Picture: Getty Images

Queen Mary wore a simple navy dress by fashion designer Soeren Le Schmidt, stitched by Birgit Hallstein — the same team behind the Tasmanian-born royal’s coronation gown, as well as her wedding dress. She paired the look with nude heels and a navy headpiece.

It came after an official gala portrait of Princess Isabella of Denmark taken to mark her 18th birthday was released last week, causing a quite a stir over the inclusion of an iPhone.

An official gala portrait of Princess Isabella of Denmark taken to mark her 18th birthday.

Her Royal Highness was photographed in the Knight’s Hall of Frederick VIII’s Palace in Amalienborg wearing a bright orange ball gown and sparkling tiara with the Order of the Elephant with a star chest, a turquoise and diamond diadem and a miniature order portrait of her father, King Frederik.

But it’s the break with royal protocol which stunned royal watchers, with the smiling royal appearing in one photo taken by her Australian mother Queen Mary holding her iPhone.

And while some royal watchers were quick to praise the image, others labelled the portrait as “depressing”.

Originally published as Queen Mary and King Frederik commemorate 80th anniversary of Denmark’s liberation