Queen Mary and King Frederik make military moves on tour of Finland
King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark get serious about military security during their state visit to Finland, as tensions rise with neighbour Russia.
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Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark explored their military sides as they attended manoeuvres at a garrison on the second day of their state visit to Finland.
The Danish royal couple’s tour comes as the two Nordic nations sealed a defence deal to strengthen security in the region amid escalating international tensions.
Finland has a turbulent history with Russia, including an invasion by the USSR, and a decline in relations following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Mary, 53, and Frederik, 56, visited the Porkkala Garrison in Upinniemi, where King Frederik mounted an armoured tank, taking it for a test drive and examining the guns in the turret.
The army tanks themselves are a joint product: manufactured by Finland, their turrets are made by Danish company Sima Innovation.
King Frederik looked earnest and focused intensely as he was shown the workings of the large calibre artillery piece.
The garrison is the biggest naval base in the Gulf of Finland.
The couple were smartly rugged up against the cold, Queen Mary in a long navy puffer jacket with wide-legged grey flannel slacks.
King Frederik complemented his wife with a matching puffer jacket and tailored trousers.
The state visit consolidates the nations’ Finnish-Danish defence co-operation, but later the royals also visited Aalto University in Helsinki and the Arkki School of Architecture for Children and Youth in Helsinki.
Then the monarchs joined Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and first lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb for a seminar of Finnish and Danish investors on green policies.
QUEEN MARY STUNS IN RARE JEWELS, GOLD TIARA
Queen Mary of Denmark made a grand entrance at a gala dinner in Finland after stepping out in historical royal jewels not seen in more than 140 years.
The Australian-born monarch was picture perfect in Queen Caroline Amalie’s gold diadem and Princess Vilhelmine Marie’s bracelet.
The palace confirmed the long-hidden treasures had been brought back into the spotlight, thrilling royal enthusiasts.
Mary paired the historic jewels with a stunning lace gown by one of her go-to designers, Jesper Høvring, as she joined King Frederik at a white-tie gala hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, at Helsinki’s Presidential Palace.
She also wore a large brooch featuring a miniature portrait of her husband by British artist Tom Mulliner, adorned by a bow of the Order of Dannebrog ribbon.
“For generations, there has been a tradition that female members of The Royal Family wear a miniature portrait of the sovereign,” the Danish royal household has previously explained.
“Thus, in her time as Crown Princess, The Queen wore a portrait of Queen Margrethe [II].”
Mary was first seen wearing the brooch in her first official portrait as Queen last year.
The Danish royals are in Finland for a two-day state visit, but before their official engagements began, they embraced the winter landscape with a snowy sled ride in Saariselkä, Lapland.
The tiara was made in 1820 for Caroline Amalie, who was married to Denmark’s Christian VIII, and reigned from 1839 to 1848.
The 11-piece gem set was acquired by her husband during their trip to Italy, where they explored Rome and the excavations of Pompeii.
Now part of Denmark’s royal collection, the gold bracelet — adorned with semiprecious stones from the Vesuvius region — and the tiara are usually housed in the Treasury at Rosenborg Castle.
They are displayed alongside Denmark’s four Crown Jewel sets, which Queen Mary has also worn.
In December, the Danish palace revealed that Mary had reworked part of the Crown Jewels to create a new tiara — the rose-cut diamond bandeau.
The Queen has exclusive access to Denmark’s four historic Crown Jewel sets, dating back to 1840. These include the brilliant-cut diamond set, an emerald set, a pearl-ruby set, and a rose-cut diamond set.
Her newly-designed tiara was crafted from stones belonging to the rose-cut diamond set, which has been the least worn by past Danish queens.
To give it new life, Queen Mary had the set’s large diamond belt transformed into a tiara she could wear throughout her reign.
This marks the most significant alteration of the Crown Jewels in over 180 years.
The palace said that Queen Mary is “resuming the old tradition of adapting the Crown Jewels to the demands and needs of the time.”
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Originally published as Queen Mary and King Frederik make military moves on tour of Finland
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