Queen Mary has returned to her royal duties following a private family holiday, while her husband, King Frederik, embarks on a solo trip abroad. Queen Mary, who has four children, including Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine, quietly resumed her responsibilities on Friday. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Christian is stepping in as regent until Sunday, 23 February.
The Danish royal couple's brief separation comes as King Frederik attends to a private stay overseas. Queen Mary was recently seen enjoying some downtime in her hometown of Hobart, Tasmania, where she was spotted at the bustling Salamanca Market. Her roots in Australia remain strong, with several relatives still residing there. It was during the Sydney 2000 Olympics that Queen Mary first met King Frederik, solidifying a connection that led to their marriage on 14 May 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral.
Queen Mary's return to duties also aligns with her commitment to The Queen Mary's Centre, launched in 2022 to coincide with her 50th birthday. The center aims to foster new methods of cooperation in areas like welfare and digital society. This initiative underlines Queen Mary's dedication to innovative solutions for societal challenges.
Looking ahead, Queen Mary and King Frederik have a busy state visit schedule. They are set to visit Finland from 4 to 5 March and will later travel to France between 31 March and 2 April. These visits highlight the couple's ongoing commitment to strengthening international relations. King Frederik recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of his reign this past January.
In addition to upcoming joint engagements, King Frederik plans to make an individual accession visit to Japan from 23 to 25 April. During this trip, he will participate in the international world exhibition Expo 2025 in Osaka, underscoring Denmark's role on the global stage.
