Princess Mary attends solemn family occasion

Crown Princess Mary was among a sombre group of Danish royals who gathered to mourn the unexpected death of Prince Richard.

The 82-year-old prince was the husband of Princess Benedikte, the sister of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe.  

Royals from across Scandinavia gathered for the service in Germany – where Prince Richard and Princess Benedikte lived in Berleburg Castle –  including the kings and queens of the Netherlands and of Sweden.

Princess Mary, accompanied by her husband Crown Prince Frederik, wore a stylish black skirt suit with black leather gloves and matching black stilettoes. Her outfit was in keeping with the rest of the black-clad mourners.

Danish news site thelocal reported that the prince’s death, which happened on March 14 while he was at home with son Prince Gustav, was sudden. Princess Benedikte, pictured below, was in Denmark at the time. According to the news site, the prince had had a number of health problems in recent years, battling cancer at least twice.

As the prince’s only son, Prince Gustave will inherit the castle and 15,000 hectares of forest.

Do you think black is still the only colour appropriate for a funeral? Or do you prefer bright colours to celebrate life?