New portrait of Queen Mary of Denmark released in celebration of her 53rd birthday

Royal fans have been treated to a new photo of the beloved Aussie-born Queen Mary of Denmark as the world celebrates her 53rd birthday.

On Wednesday, February 5, the Danish royal household released a new portrait of Mary on social media in honour of her special day.

The image shows her seated on a sofa in Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg, wearing a high-neck white silk blouse and a light pink lace skirt.

“Her Majesty the Queen has a birthday and is turning 53 today,” the caption alongside the image read.

“Because of the birthday, a new portrait of the Queen is published. The portrait was taken by photographer Steen Evald at Amalienborg.”

 

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Fans from near and far wasted no time in wishing Queen Mary all the best for her birthday.

“As beautiful as ever! Have a wonderful day Queen Mary! From Melbourne, Australia!” one wrote.

“She is beautiful, smart and warm-hearted – Denmark can be proud of her queen.”

“Such a gorgeous photo and a very Happy birthday from Australia,” commented another.

“Happy Birthday – most beautiful queen!”

Mary’s birthday celebrations come after she was widely praised and celebrated for the way she has embraced her role as queen, a year into her reign.

In a recent opinion poll of 1,004 respondents conducted by Danish broadcaster DR, both Mary and Frederik received an 85 per cent approval rating in December 2024.

Queen Mary and her husband, King Frederik, ascended the throne following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II. The former queen reigned for an illustrious 52 years and is Europe’s longest-serving monarch.

On Sunday, January 14, 2024 in a ceremony rich with tradition and historical significance, Queen Margrethe II signed the declaration that would reshape Danish history.

After signing the declaration, the queen rose and invited Frederik to take her seat, proclaiming “God save the King” before leaving the room.

Against the backdrop of Christiansborg Castle, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik as the new King of Denmark with the words “Long live his majesty King Frederik the 10th”.

Reflecting on the past year, royal house expert Thomas Larsen said “it has been a very successful year for both the king and queen”. 

“They haven’t made any mistakes,” Larsen told AAP.

“(Mary) is a powerbroker… she is a crucial adviser to the king.”

Trine Villemann, the author of 1015 Copenhagen K: Mary’s Dysfunctional In-Laws, also praised Mary, calling her the “backbone” of her husband’s reign.

“She’s King Mary. She’s the power behind the throne. Nothing gets done at Amalienborg Palace without Mary (or her staff’s input),” Villemann told AAP.

“Here we have this girl from Tasmania, a completely ordinary normal girl who has not been afraid to seize power. It’s a really successful feminist story.”