Queen Mary of Denmark and King Frederik attend gala dinner
- The royal couple are on their first visit to Sweden since ascending the throne
- READ MORE: How Queen Mary could look to Queen Silvia and forgive Frederik
King Frederik X of Denmark and his wife Queen Mary have arrived in Stockholm today for their first state visit since ascending to the Danish throne.
After being greeted by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel and boarding the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog earlier in the day, the first evening was as spectacular as expected with a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
The glittering event was hosted by King Carl Gustaf and German-Brazilian-born Queen Silvia, while high-profile Swedish royals such as Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel were also in attendance.
Not a detail was spared as a stunning bouquet of flowers made for the centrepiece on the banquet table, where hundreds of guests sat to enjoy a meal certainly fit for a king.
Royal couple Mary and Frederick have been dogged by affair rumours in recent months since ascending the throne – but put on a united display once more as they attended the event hosted by their Swedish royal counterparts.
Queen Mary, 52, herself looked chic in a flowing gown with an intricate scarlet floral bodice and flowing silk skirt.
Queen Mary of Denmark looked chic as she made her way to a glittering gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Monday evening
The gala dinner was hosted by Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden. Mary is pictured with Queen Silvia
Australian-born Mary was the epitome of elegance as she wore the Danish Ruby Parure tiara and jewellery collection to perfectly complement her dress of the same colour.
She also wore the Sash and Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim, the Star of the Order of the Elephant and the historic ’Ordensportrættet’ – a family portrait brooch.
Her bodice was the Jesper Hovring New Top from the fall 2018 collection, which she paired with an upcycled skirt from 2018.
Mary seemed to spend much of the evening in conversation with Queen Silvia, showing the close ties between the nations – and the royals were in constant conversation as they were seated for the meal.
Queen Silvia, 80, opted for a rich emerald green gown and wore the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara, with her jewellery adding deep blue hues to the look.
The spectacular tiara is known to be one of Silvia’s favourites and consists of an ornate diamond base, topped by eleven massive sapphire jewels.
And the husbands also did not disappoint in their finery as King Frederick, 55, wore the Collar of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim with the Star of the Order of the Elephant.
He led the way into the banquet hall with his host, King Carl Gustaf XVI, 78, also in the Danish Order of the Elephant, as they were followed in by Queen Mary and Queen Silvia.
King Frederik X and Queen Mary leaving The Royal Yacht Dannebrog for a state banquet at the royal palace in Stockholm
Mary, 52, was the epitome of elegance as she wore the Danish Ruby Parure tiara
Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel arrive for a gala dinner. Victoria and Princess Sofia both stunned in shades of blue
Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Princess Sofia arrive for a gala dinner
Sofia, 39, wore a Ida Lanto gown with the topaz version of her wedding tiara as the gorgeous couple turned heads upon their arrival
It was a glamorous event for the Swedish royals, as Crown Princess Victoria, the heir apparent to the Swedish throne as the eldest child, was also present – as was her brother Prince Carl Philip.
Victoria stunned in a light blue gown alongside her husband Prince Daniel. She too was laden with jewellery, opting for the Connaught Diamond Tiara.
Prince Carl Philip arrived with his glamorous wife Princess Sofia on his arm, who had opted for a similar hue of light blue to her sister-in-law Victoria.
Sofia, 39, wore a Ida Lanto gown with the topaz version of her wedding tiara as the gorgeous couple turned heads upon their arrival.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen were among the esteemed guests in attendance.
Queen Mary and Frederick are on their first state visit to Sweden since ascending to the Danish throne.
Despite rumours the couple is dealing with marital struggles, the royals were all smiles when welcomed by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in Stockholm on Monday.
Mary was the epitome of elegance in a white Mark Kenly Domino Tan dress, royal blue shawl and navy Jane Taylor London headpiece, while her beaming husband looked handsome in his military uniform.
Frederik, 55, was proclaimed king on January 14 after his 83-year-old mother, Queen Margrethe II, who was Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, abdicated.
Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Mary of Denmark, King Frederik X of Denmark and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden wait for the arrival of guests
The royals’ jewel-laden tiaras were perfectly chosen to match the colours in their dresses
It seemed to be the banquet of the year as the Swedish royals all attended the dinner
Swedish Prince Daniel (L) and Danish Queen Mary (C) were seated together for the dinner
Queen Mary and Queen Silvia did not hold back with their jewellery – as Silvia’s tiara boasted 11 huge sapphires
Her shock abdication came amid rumours of tension between her eldest son and his wife. Speculation about the state of their marriage first began after photos emerged of Frederik enjoying an evening out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casnova in November last year.
But the royal couple – who recently appeared frosty with each other on a family skiing trip over Easter – seemed to be in great spirits as they began their first official visit abroad as new Danish monarchs.
In the Swedish capital, Frederik and Mary were first greeted by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, who boarded the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog.
They then took the gilded Swedish Royal Barge to shore and were welcomed there by King Carl Gustaf, Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch, and Queen Silvia.
The welcome also included a cannon salute and music by Sweden’s Royal Guards, lined up on the quay at the foot of the Swedish Royal Palace.
Frederik and Mary then joined the rest of the Swedish royals at the Palace, including Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia.
Attending the reception for the Danish royal couple, heir to the Swedish throne Victoria, 46, looked radiant in a pink frock. Her daughter, Estelle, 12, matched her mother in a blush dress from Malina.
Prince Daniel, the husband of Victoria, and their son Oscar, eight, both donned smart suits, while Prince Carl Philip wore his military uniform.
Queen Mary attends the gala dinner as she was surrounded by high-profile guests
Danish King Frederik X (hidden) and Queen Mary (2-L) welcome guests with Swedish Queen Silvia (L) and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (R)
Not a detail was spared as a stunning bouquet of flowers made for the centrepiece on the banquet table, where hundreds of guests sat to enjoy the fine royal meal
King Frederick wore the Collar of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim with the Star of the Order of the Elephant
The guests marvelled at a magnificent floral centrepiece. Pictured Queen Silvia and Danish King Frederick, sat opposite Queen Mary and Prince Daniel.
Carl Philip’s wife Princess Sofia put on a stylish display, meanwhile, in a white Veronica Virta dress teamed with a matching headband and heels.
Relations between the two royal houses are close. Frederik’s grandmother, Queen Ingrid, who died in 2000, was a Swedish princess.
The May 6-7 visit includes meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kirstersson and the speaker of the Swedish Parliament. A visit to a military facility is also scheduled.
Danish government members also accompanied the royals, among them Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Danish monarchs, whose roles are ceremonial, traditionally travel to other Scandinavian countries first. Although Frederik had a solo visit to Poland in January, it was planned before his mother’s surprise New Year’s Eve abdication.
The royal couple’s visit comes after Frederik said that having his wife by his side was the ‘highlight’ of his ‘overwhelming’ ceremony marking his accession to the throne.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (L) and his wife Birgitta Ed
Swedish chairman of the Riksdag, Andreas Norlen (R) and his wife Helena Norlen
Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen
Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen
Speaking to Danish broadcaster, TV2, aboard their royal yacht Kongeskibet Dannebrog, the couple avoided questions about their relationship and instead doubled down on the strength of their marriage.
Frederik praised Mary for helping him get through the historic day, saying: ‘It was very overwhelming and moving. I felt extremely well received.
‘The highlight was when Mary and the children came out and stood right behind me and I had the Danes standing in front of me and waving. It was one of the most amazing things to experience in my life.’
Queen Mary was just as complimentary to her husband, saying the moment ‘moved her so much.’
She said: ‘I stood with the children and when you stepped out onto the balcony towards your fate, it was a moment that moved me incredibly much.
‘We could hear and feel it, even if we couldn’t see it. It was a beautiful moment. I was both very happy and very proud.’
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