SECRET SIGNS
Four signals Queen Mary & King Frederik send with ‘wooden’ new portrait after affair rumours, claims body language pro
The royal couple are set to embark on their first state visits
THE first official portrait of King Frederik and Queen Mary has been unveiled following their ascension to the throne in January this year.
The Danish royal couple looked resplendent in their finery, but a body language expert shared how the formal photo could reveal secret signals about their relationship.
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This follows the monarchs being hit with affair rumours after claims Frederik, 55, was having an affair with Mexican socialite and MasterChef star Genoveva Casanova back in November.
Genoveva has insisted claims of any romance are "categorically" untrue - and the royals haven’t commented on the speculation.
The new official portrait, snapped by photographer Steen Evald in the Green Room at Christiansborg Palace, will be hung at Danish embassies and consulates.
Body language expert Judi James said the regal shot projects “warmth” and “love”, although claimed: “These are projected at the camera and therefore their country and subjects rather than each other.”
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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.
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“And those asymmetric smiles suggest they will retain their ability to be accessible and friendly rather than over-formal royals.”
She continued that Mary’s pose is “rather wooden with no suggestion of touch or affection for her husband here.”
King Frederik of Denmark: A look at his journey from young ‘party prince’ to succession following shock abdication
In the photo, Queen Mary can be seen wearing the Danish Emerald Parure tiara, an honour usually reserved for the queen.
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.
King Frederik is wearing military uniform, and both he and his wife are wearing their honours, including the Order of the Elephant on chains.
The couple ascended the throne on January 14, following the shock abdication of Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe, 84.
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
Judi James
In a statement, she said: "In February [2023] I underwent extensive back surgery. It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me.
“Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation."
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.
They will undertake their first state visits to Sweden and Norway next month.
Queen Margrethe's shock abdication
Fifty-two years of faithful service ended on January 14 as hugely popular Queen Margrethe, 83, signed a historic document finalising her abdication.
In a single swipe of her pen, her 55-year-old son Frederik - known as the scandalous "party prince" - automatically succeeded her as the new monarch of Denmark.
She left the room with tears in her eyes, saying: "God bless the king."
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen then formally proclaimed Frederik the new king on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace with his wife Queen Mary at his side.
Frederik has been married to Princess Mary since 2004, and she is the world's first Australia-born queen.
The pair, who met in a pub in Sydney in 2000, are known for their low-key lifestyle.
Although he was at the bar with other high profile royals including the future king of Spain, Mary reportedly had no idea who he was.
He even introduced himself to her as Fred, and left out the fact that he was the heir to the Danish throne.
Mary and Frederik soon began a long distance relationship - with the prince often sneaking off to Australia to spend time with her.
In May 2004, the couple married in an emotional ceremony, with Frederik captured wiping away tears as his bride walked down the aisle.
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Mary has previously been compared to Princess Kate, as neither were aristocrats but both came from well-connected families before marrying their respective royal husbands.
They also bear a striking resemblance and have a similar taste in clothes.
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