Being a member of the royal family can seem like a busy full-time job as senior figures carry out regular royal engagements both at home and abroad.

However, what many don’t know is that a number of royals have skills on the side, away from their public-facing duties – like, for example the recently abdicated Queen Margrethe who just won an award for her costume work on a Netflix film.

She isn’t the only royal with an unexpected skill: from truck driving to selling art for staggering amounts of money, a number of have alternative talents.

Among the most prestigious of these talents are Zara Tindall‘s efforts at riding, which have seen her pick up an Olympic medal, among other accolades. 

She follows in the footsteps of her talented mother Princess Anne, who was also a lauded equestrian in her day.

Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the most talented royals – and you should expect to be surprised by at least of couple of them…

Queen Elizabeth II – trained mechanic and truck driver

Of all the unlikely skills boasted by royals, the most surprising is perhaps the late monarch’s ability as a mechanic. She was trained to fix and drive trucks when she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service at just 18-years-old.

The then-Princess Elizabeth was taught skills like changing a spark plug as well as how to drive a truck. This involvement made her the only female member of The Firm to have been in the armed forces.

Her experience as a driver and mechanic during WWII, which she described ‘the terrible and glorious years’ was shared in a 2020 documentary, Our Queen At War.

Unlike many of her peers who were evacuated abroad, Elizabeth remained in Britain. She was prepared for the throne by studying the British constitution at Eton College, while putting on fundraising pantomimes at Windsor Castle and worrying about the safety of her parents who remained at Buckingham Palace.

By the time she was 16, Princess Elizabeth was inspecting the troops and launching ships while living in a secret location and keeping up with developments in the war by watching weekly newsreels.

At the age of 18 the Princess joined the women’s arm of the British Army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), and became the first female member of the royal family to serve in the armed forces.

Royal biographer Jane Dismore wrote: ‘The war gave Princess Elizabeth a humanity that she might have taken longer to discover she shared a lot in common with ordinary people in that she saw their suffering, she knew about it. She knew that people looked to her as that new generation, that new generation of hope. ‘

When the end of the War came, on VE day in May 1945, she mingled with the crowds outside Buckingham Palace incognito in her ATS uniform – seven years before taking the throne. 

Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine, said: ‘She actually described it as the most exciting night of her life.’

Prince Albert of Monaco – Olympian

While very few may be aware of it, Prince Albert of Monaco is not only married to a famous Olympian (Princess Charlene is a swimmer), he is one himself.

Not only that, the royal took part in not one, but five consecutive Games, representing Monaco in bobsled. 

The son of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly took up bobsleigh in the mid-1980s, and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee (UIOC) since 1985. 

Prince Albert, who was the bobsleigh pilot for Monaco, participated in the Olympics in Calgary, Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano, and Salt Lake City between 1988 and 2002. 

He was flag bearer for his nation in 1988, 1994 and 2002.

The Monegasque royal, 65, met his fellow Olympian wife at a swimming event in Monaco in 2000 – the same year she competed in the Sydney Olympics.

It’s thought the couple bonded over the fact they both came from athletic backgrounds – and the bond was clearly a strong one as they are still together today. 

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark – artist

Margrethe of Denmark, who recently abdicated to give the throne to her son, King Frederik, showed off her creative talents in other projects while she was monarch.

Far from fading into the background following her abdication; the 83-year-old has just scooped a prestigious award for her costume and set design work on a Danish film.     

She worked on Netflix film Ehrengard – The Art of Seduction, for which she was awarded a Robert Award as Costume Designer of the Year.

Taking to Instagram, the royal wrote: ‘I am deeply grateful, touched and proud of the recognition that the Robert award represents. 

‘Receiving an award that the industry itself awards makes me particularly happy, and it has been a great joy and pleasure to be able to contribute to the expression of the film. 

‘I would like to thank the entire team behind the film, but I especially thank all those who have made my ideas, sketches and drawings a reality – not least the talented people who have sewn and worked with the many costumes.’

Many are unaware of the former monarch’s creative talents, but as a child, she aspired to be an artist.

She was not set to be monarch during her childhood as, despite being the eldest sibling, as primogeniture rules at the time stipulated any boys born into the family would take the throne, whether they were the eldest or not. However, the rules were changed when she was a child.

But even during her royal duty, after becoming Queen in 1972, she worked on creative projects.  

According to the Danish royal website: ‘As an adult, The Queen herself became involved in ballet as a scenographer and costume designer. 

‘From the mid-1980s and 30 years onwards, The Queen helped with the annual ballet performances at a friend’s dance school in Næstved, where the wing scenery and costumes were conjured up with enormous imagination from materials at hand. Quite special were the performances’ numerous paper hats, which The Queen thought up and created herself.’

After working on amateur productions, Margrethe took up more professional work, after being approached by the TV theatre at Danmarks Radio who ‘approached The Queen in 1987 and persuaded her to assist as a scenographer and costume designer for a TV production of H.C. Andersen’s fairy tale The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep’.

A litany of productions followed throughout the years, with her first performance as scenographer and costume designer being the H.C. Andersen-inspired ballet Love in the Dustbin in 2001.

‘Since then there have been ballets based on several of the author’s fairy tales, including Thumbelina, The Tinderbox, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Swineherd and The Snow Queen, but also The Nutcracker and Cinderella,’ says her online biography.

King Charles – one of the UK’s ‘most successful living artists’

The monarch has spoken often of his love of art, and it’s well known that he enjoys watercolour.

His Majesty, who has been known to pick up a paintbrush, modestly refers to himself as an enthusiastic amateur.

However, it was revealed in 2016 that the then-Prince of Wales was actually one of Britain’s most successful living artists after raising millions of pounds for charity by selling prints of his paintings.

Copies have been sold through the shop at his family residence, Highgrove House, and since 1997 the watercolour paintings have brought in £2million for The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.

Added to that is the estimation by an art dealer who previously handled sales of the Prince’s lithographs that they raised at least £4million.

It means the total amount, which has gone towards a wide variety of good causes, is believed to be more than £6million, according to Robert Mendick at the Telegraph.

The average earnings of fine artists at the time was £10,000 a year, putting Charles in an elite group. 

The lithographs on display in the Highgrove shop are priced at around £2,500, while the Belgravia Gallery, which previously handled sales, offers limited edition prints for up to £15,000.

The Prince only paints with watercolours and never sells the originals.

He has painted for decades, inspired in the 1970s and 80s by his art master at Gordonstoun in Scotland Robert Waddel.

Mainly focusing on landscapes and nature scenes, his favourite locations include the Queen’s estate at Balmoral and Sandringham House.

The Prince has often shared his love of art with the public and in 2013 contributed to a television documentary, ‘Royal Paintbox’ on Royal artists throughout history.

He sees his watercolours as part of his legacy, and in the documentary said: ‘We walk away and shuffle off our mortal coil, but these things live on.’

Clarence House has said in the past: ‘The Prince has been an enthusiastic amateur artist and keen collector and Patron of the Arts for many years.

‘The Prince likes to paint whenever his schedule allows – whether on private holidays, or during a spare moment on an overseas tour – and finds it a most absorbing occupation.

‘These watercolours provide an insight into not only The Prince’s artistic interpretation of his environment, but into his private and public life.’

Sophie Winkleman (Lady Frederick Windsor) – actor 

Sophie Winkleman, who has been styled as Lady Frederick Windsor ever since her 2009 wedding to Lord Frederick Windsor.

Lord Frederick is the son of Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie-Christine, known as Princess Michael.

Sophie met Lord Frederick Windsor on a night out in Soho and married him in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace.

The guests included senior members of the Royal Family and the bride’s half sister, Claudia.

She previously detailed her experience moving into the Royal Family, telling The Times in 2020: ‘I’ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them.

‘I haven’t had a single negative experience. The Queen’s been wonderful, Prince Charles has been wonderful, Prince William’s been heaven.

‘They’d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some role. Everyone’s looked after me.’

As well as being part of the wider Royal Family, Sophie is also an actor, best known for her role as Big Suze in Peep Show.

Sophie was educated at the City of London School for Girls before completing an English degree at the University of Cambridge.

During her time there, she joined the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe that, over time, has featured stars including Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and David Mitchell.

Zara Tindall – the ‘Royal Olympian’

Perhaps one of the best known royals to have an impressive talent is Zara Tindall, who is a talented equestrienne who has even picked up an Olympic medal in the sport.

Her illustrious career includes a gold at the European Eventing Championships in 2005 and a silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

Zara has also previously been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and has been nicknamed the Royal Olympian, after scooping silver in a team event for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

However, the 43-year-old revealed recently that her professional horse-riding career is ‘very part-time now’ so she can spend more time with her three young children.

Zara, and her husband Mike Tindall – ex-rugby player and former reality show contestant – are parents to Mia, nine, and Lena, five, and son Lucas, two.

‘I’m very part-time now,’ she told the The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine. ‘I’ve only got four horses so hopefully I have enough time to care for my children and still compete. I hope I make better decisions. I definitely don’t go to everything now.’

Zara, who is the niece of King Charles, explained: ‘When I had 15 horses I was everywhere and away every weekend but now I very much pick [events] around the kids and holidays and try to be around as much as I can be.’

The former queen of Denmark has won a prestigious award for her costume and set design for a Danish Netflix film, just weeks after her abdication.

Margrethe, who shocked royal watchers when she announced her unexpected abdication on December 31, announced her award on Instagram.

She worked on the Netflix film Ehrengard – The Art of Seduction, for which she received a Robert Award as costume designer of the year.

On Instagram, the royal family wrote: 'I am deeply grateful, moved and proud of the recognition that the Robert Award represents.

'Receiving an award given by the industry itself makes me extremely happy, and it was a great joy and pleasure to be able to contribute to the expression of the film.

'I would like to thank the whole team behind the film, but especially everyone who turned my ideas, sketches and drawings into reality – not least the talented people who sewed and worked with the many costumes.'

Many are unaware of the former monarch's creative talents, but as a child she dreamed of becoming an artist.

According to the Royal website: 'Princess Margrethe started attending the Royal Theater with her parents at an early age, where she attended August Bournonville's ballet Napoli in 1948, which made a deep impression on the princess.'

According to Danish law, only men were allowed to ascend the throne until she was thirteen. But when the constitution was changed to allow women to rule, Margrethe became the heir presumptive, changing the course of her life and becoming queen in 1972.

However, she continued to work on her drawings and other works of art until about the age of twenty.

After studying a degree in prehistoric archeology at the University of Cambridge, as well as Aarhus University in Denmark, the Sorbonne and the London School of Economics, she was inspired to take up art again after reading JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

According to the Danish royal family: 'As an adult, The Queen herself became involved in ballet as a set designer and costume designer.

'From the mid-eighties and thirties, The Queen helped with the annual ballet performances at a friend's dance school in Næstved, where the grand piano sets and costumes were conjured up with enormous imagination from the available materials. Very special were the numerous paper hats at the performances, which The Queen herself devised and made.'

After working on amateur productions, Margrethe turned more professionally, after being approached by Danmarks Radio's TV theater, which approached 'The Queen in 1987 and persuaded her to help as a set designer and costume designer for a TV production of HC Andersen's fairy tale. The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep'.

For an ambitious new production of August Bournonville's ballet A Folk Tale, at the Royal Theater in 1990, the then Queen designed the scenography and many costumes.

The Royal Theater followed in 1990 with an ambitious new production of August Bournonville's ballet A Folk Tale, for which The Queen designed the scenography and many costumes.

Around 2000, Margethe joined Tivoli's Pantomime Theater.

Her goal was to “revive the theater's small ballets, which are performed free of charge for amusement park visitors.”

Her first performance as a set designer and costume designer was the HC Andersen-inspired ballet Love in the Dustbin in 2001.

“Since then, ballets based on several of the author's fairy tales have been published, including Thumbelina, The Tinder Box, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Swineherd and The Snow Queen, as well as The Nutcracker and Cinderella,” her biography says.

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction, which was announced last year.

According to Netflix: 'In the fairytale kingdom of Babenhausen, a young, self-proclaimed love expert, Mr. Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), is hired by the scheming Grand Duchess (Sidse Barbett Knudsen) to help her secure an heir.

While searching for a suitable future princess, Mr. Cazotte teaches the timid and introverted Crown Prince Lothar (Emil Aron Dorph) the art of seduction and lovemaking.

'But their plan soon fails when an illegitimate heir is conceived and the royal family is forced to take refuge in Rosenbad Castle. Here, as rivals within the royal family move toward their plan, Cazotte himself falls in love with Ehrengard (Alice Esther Bier Zandén), the bridesmaid, and gradually discovers that he is, in fact, no expert on love at all.”

Speaking about her role in the design department when the project was announced, Margrethe said she was “very happy” to be part of this project.

Praising the author, she described the work as “aesthetic” and revealed: “I have tried to interpret Blixen's fantastic universe in the creation of the découpages and costumes and I look forward to seeing Ehrengard's story come to life in this film.”

Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction is now streaming on Netflix in Denmark.

Denmark's King Frederick

The newly ascended royal, 55, smiled this morning during a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw.

The pair appeared to enjoy each other's company as they chatted during an official welcome ceremony at the country's presidential palace.

Frederik wrapped up warm with a winter coat worn over a light puffer, combined with black leather gloves.

Photos of him from that day also showed him wearing a black suit and blue shirt, along with a purple tie.

It is the king's first trip abroad since his mother abdicated after 52 years on the throne.

His goals for the three-day visit are energy efficiency and climate-friendly agriculture.

Frederik will also lead a Danish business delegation with 38 participating companies in Poland.

After the welcome ceremony at the palace, he and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen took part in a conversation with President Duda, followed by an official lunch.

Next on the agenda is a wreath-laying ceremony at a grave in memory of unknown soldiers, erected after the First World War; visits to the Sejm (the lower house of the Polish government) and the Senate; and a roundtable discussion on energy efficiency.

The evening ends with a grand dinner in the Kubicki Arcades of the Royal Palace in Warsaw.

It comes as Fredrik unveiled his new signature last week – and it shares a key detail with that of King Charles.

The official Instagram account of the Danish royal family posted a photo of a 100th birthday card signed by the new king.

They captioned the post: 'In a small town in North Jutland, a 100-year-old birthday boy today is the first to receive a congratulations from His Majesty the King.'

The post went on to explain how Frederik has decided to continue this tradition of sending cards to the public celebrating their 100th, 105th and 110th birthdays.

Moreover, the King also reiterated how he will send his congratulations to couples celebrating their 60th, 65th, 70th and 75th wedding anniversary.

In addition, the Danish royal family posted a photo of the birthday card, which was printed on white paper and featured their code.

Under the printed congratulatory message, King Frederick made his first debut since becoming the official monarch.

Like King Charles, the monarch signed his name with an 'R' for 'Rex', which is Latin for king.

Although Queen Mary's new signature has not yet been revealed, she will likely also use 'R', just like Queen Camilla.

In September 2023, King Charles and Queen Camilla signed birthday cards for Britain's oldest living man and woman. John celebrated his 111th birthday this summer while Ethel turned 114.

Shortly after the Queen's death in September 2022, Buckingham Palace unveiled the new Royal Code – which features the initials of the King's name Charles and the King's title Rex, as well as the Roman numeral III.

Earlier this month, the Danish royal family shared an intimate and telling behind-the-scenes look at King Frederick's proclamation.

Queen Margrethe signed her historic abdication papers alongside her son and grandson Prince Christian, 18, present at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

The Queen's last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King.'

After this, the new king addressed the crowd that had gathered outside the royal palace from the balcony.

Harrowing behind-the-scenes footage on the Danish royal family's Instagram page shows the moment Frederik nervously approached the balcony to make his first public appearance since becoming king.

The father of four – wearing his military regalia – took a deep breath as he looked to an aide for permission to walk onto the balcony.

From the palace you can see Queen Mary, who was dressed for the occasion in an elegant white dress by Soeren Le Schmidt, clinging to her daughter Princess Josephine.

The 13-year-old looked suitably smart in a black jacket with gold buttons and her hair half up, half down and secured with a bow.

As Prince Christian stood behind his mother and siblings, 16-year-old Princess Isabella – who wore a red coat – lovingly placed her hands on the shoulders of her younger brother, Prince Vincent.

The footage then jumps to Queen Mary walking out to the balcony to wave to the crowd of royal fans with her husband.

The couple appeared overcome with emotion as they shared a loving look before being joined by their four children.

From the palace, King Frederick's younger brother Prince Joachim – whose four children were stripped of their royal titles in January 2023 – thoughtfully took in the scene unfolding on the balcony.

The royal, 54, attended the ceremony without the support of his wife Princess Marie and their two children, Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, 11.

After Queen Margrethe stripped her grandchildren of their royal titles, Joachim and his second wife moved with their children to Washington DC – where the royal family works as a defense industry attaché at the Danish embassy.

King Harald of Norway has confirmed he has no plans to abdicate following speculation he could follow in the footsteps of his former Danish counterpart, Queen Margrethe.

The 86-year-old monarch (the grandnephew of King Charles III) emphasized that the promise he made to the Norwegian parliament when he came to the throne in 1991 is 'valid for life'.

King Harald told Faktisk.no: “I stand by what I have said all along. I made an oath to the Storting, and it is valid for life.'

It comes after Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 83, made the shock decision to step down after 52 years on the throne, making way for her son Frederik to take over on January 14.

Afterwards, a royal expert had suggested that the Danish monarch had broken an “invisible pact” between heads of state in the Scandinavian countries that no one would step down from the throne.

Roger Lundberg told STV that after Denmark's transition, there is a chance that King Harald of Norway and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, will follow suit and step down to let their eldest children take over the throne.

However, this has now been firmly rejected by King Harald.

The Norwegian king was 53 when he came to the throne in 1991, after the death of his father, King Olav. Previously, he served as Crown Prince Regent due to his father's illness, which escalated in the spring of 1990.

King Harald has faced some health issues himself in recent years and spent time in hospital last May treating an infection, but he clearly has no intention of abdicating.

His Scandinavian neighbor, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, made the shocking announcement during her New Year's Eve speech that she would give up the throne.

The Danish royal family has suffered several scandals in the past two years, including the queen's surprise decision to strip her grandchildren of their princely titles.

There were also rumors of an 'affair' after Crown Prince Frederik was spotted in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova. The monarch's decision to retire could provide a much-needed fresh start.

But Denmark isn't the only monarchy in the Nordic countries to have had a bumpy few years, with the Norwegian royal family experiencing its own 'Megxit'.

King Harald and Queen Sonja's only daughter, Princess Martha Louise, who was fourth in line to the throne, stepped down as working royals in 2019.

In 2022, it was announced that the mother of three would no longer represent the royal household in any form following her engagement to an American shamanic healer who had been criticized for his controversial views.

said King Harald that Martha should not be allowed to use her royal title possible future commercial partnerships with her partner Durek Verrett, 47.

Shortly after the mother of three announced her engagement to Verrett, a Norwegian publisher dropped his book “Spirit Hacking” due to pseudoscientific claims, including “children can get cancer if they are unhappy.”

Among his other claims, Verrett says he once came back from the dead, recovering from a months-long coma, by “burning” his soul, and he has also spoken about having to receive a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

After Martha Louise's decision to abdicate, King Harald emphasized that his daughter remained a princess at his request. He said, 'She is our daughter, and she will remain so. So she is Princess Märtha Louise.'

The princess was previously married to Ari Behn, whom she married in 2002 and had three children together: Maud Angelica, 19, Leah Isadora, 17, and Emma Tallulah, 14. They split in 2016 and Ari made a date on Christmas Day end his life. 2019.

Crown Prince Haakon, Martha-Louise's older brother, is Norway's heir apparent – and the future king has already had a taste of what it will be like to ascend the throne after taking his father's place several times in recent years .

King Frederick of Denmark and Queen Mary attended the first church service of his reign on Sunday.

The 55-year-old monarch and his wife, 51, looked relaxed as they greeted their people as snow fell around Aarhus Cathedral in northern Denmark.

Joining the king, dressed in full military regalia, and Queen Mary were the couple's four children: Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 13.

King Frederik ascended the throne last Sunday after his mother Margrethe abdicated after 52 years as queen.

The royal portrait, which was placed with the Danish royal family Instagram page was photographed this morning from the royal Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

The festive image showed the King and Queen, 51, in full regalia, alongside the couple's elegantly dressed four children.

The scandal-laden prince took over the crown on January 14, 2024, and became king of Denmark, succeeding his 83-year-old mother's phenomenal five-decade reign.

Margrethe's decision to leave the throne in honor of her eldest son surprised many as it comes in the middle of a controversial year for the royal family, which has been plagued by stripped titles and salacious rumors.

It comes after a resurfaced interview revealed Queen Mary almost never met then Prince Frederik.

“I almost didn't go that night,” she said Fashion.

“The taxi arrived and I said 'Oh, okay' at the last minute and just got in.”

The interview dates from 2004, but has recently been republished.

Mary and Frederik's fairytale novel has been under scrutiny in recent weeks.

King Frederik has been under scrutiny since photos emerged of the then prince enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid last year.

The glamorous socialite strongly denied claims of a romantic tryst with Frederik, even going so far as to call them 'evil'.

However, in the newly released image, the monarchs have shown no sign of sweat or distress and can be seen beaming excitedly at the camera.

According to a translated statement accompanying the image, the portraits were taken shortly after the king's ascension. It read: 'The Throne Room of Christiansborg Castle provides the setting for the first official portraits of Their Majesties The King and Queen.

'The portrait series was taken by photographer Dennis Stenild a few moments after the King's proclamation, which took place from the balcony of Tronsalen on the 14th. January 2024

'The Royal Couple is depicted together with the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine'.

In the images, the king looked exceptionally dapper, wearing black royal robes and a sky-blue sash.

The ensemble also featured gold and red detailing, as well as stately gold medals and a waist belt. He also posed with a sword held in his left hand.

Next to him was his wife Queen Mary, who cut a stylish figure in a luxurious white dress.

She looked ethereal in the hooded dress – an excellent choice as it highlighted her slim figure.

The monarch paired the look with a pair of nude high heel pumps and wore a stunning pair of bejeweled earrings.

Her brunette locks were styled neatly into a bun, while her makeup was the epitome of a natural, dewy glow.

And while the royal couple looked incredibly distinguished, it was their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, who stole the show.

The charming prince – whose new status marks him as one of Europe's most eligible bachelors – caused a storm.

His model-like posture was perhaps most noticeable because he was taller than the rest of his family, especially his father.

He looked friendly in a navy blue suit, crisp white shirt, gray tie and black leather lace-up shoes.

The eldest son of Australian-born Queen Mary is now next in line to the Danish throne after his grandmother Queen Margrethe abdicated five days ago.

The 18-year-old, who holds the title of Crown Prince of Denmark, is considered the only royal with the prestigious status in all of Europe, meaning he has become a major asset in high society.

There’s nothing quite like a meddling mother-in-law – and it appears even a Queen isn’t above trying to interfere with her son and daughter-in-law’s relationship if it arguably means it will save the future of her country’s monarchy.

Or at least, that’s how Queen Margrethe II’s abdication in favour of her scandal-hit son Frederik, now King of Denmark, may seem to some onlookers.

For royal reporter Kenth G. Madsen, the former monarch’s decision to step back from her role on January 14, when her eldest became ruler following his accession to the throne, and her daughter-in-law Mary, became Queen, was ‘damage control’.

Margrethe’s shock abdication was announced in her New Year’s Eve speech – and came after the monarchy was rocked by pictures of the King enjoying a night out with Genoveva Casanova in Madrid in November.

The Mexican socialite, 47, was forced to deny ‘malicious’ rumours about her friendship with the then Crown Prince – and Queen Mary has remained tight-lipped.

But Mr Madsen suggested that to secure the monarchy amid the ‘affair’ rumours, Margrethe was left with ‘no other choice’ but to abdicate to ‘remove the focus’ from the speculation and ‘at the same time give Mary the status of Queen’ to perhaps avoid ‘a royal divorce scandal’.

Speaking to FEMAIL, the royal reporter claimed: ‘It can be difficult to forgive alleged infidelity in a relationship unless the price for turning a blind eye is suitably high.

‘Against the background of the disclosure of Frederik’s visit to Madrid and the documentation of the meeting with Genoveva Casanova, it is reasonable to believe that Queen Margrethe found the time to throw out a lifeline, before the relationship between the Crown Prince couple completely cracked due to the scandal.

‘The Queen actually had no other choice: in a strategic move, the monarch succeeded in removing the focus from the affair rumours, and at the same time giving Mary the hyper rare status of queen.

‘A royal divorce scandal of that magnitude could break the strongest royal house forever.

‘The risk that the popularity and reputation the Queen has built up during her 52 years as monarch could be destroyed forever if she had not done damage control on the matter.’

Potential tensions possibly still in Frederik and Mary’s marriage were revealed after they shared an awkward public kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after becoming King and Queen on January 14. 

Body language expert Adrianne Carter told FEMAIL: ‘When Mary joins Frederik we initially see quite a distance between the two of them as they hold hands, he moves closer which she accepts. A literal distance can often mean a distance in a relationship.

‘When the children join them, they all move in together. Mary encompasses her children showing that’s her important focus.’

However, when the King pulls Mary close as the children leave the balcony – the Queen is ‘the first to pull away’. 

Giving her interpretation of the footage, she continued: ‘Frederik pulls her in for a kiss, which he tries to do a few times before it actually happens. This is something he has planned, rather than something spontaneous.’

Adrianne also noted that when Frederik tries to kiss Mary on the side of the forehead, she ‘doesn’t react in any way; she just accepts’.

The body language expert mused whether Frederik is ‘still in the dog house’ after rumours of an alleged affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva.

Adrianne said: ‘We see Frederik pull in Mary and plant a kiss on the side of her forehead. She doesn’t react in any way; she just accepts. Is Frederik still in the dog house I wonder?’

Margrethe shocked the nation and many royal watchers around the world when she used her annual New Year’s Eve speech to announce live on television that she was stepping down as Queen after 52 years. 

But timing of her abdication has raised questions, as it comes months after her son Frederik hit the headlines for his night out with Genoveva, who has since denied any suggestion of an ‘affair’ between the two. 

In her address the 83-year-old said she had taken stock after undergoing back surgery last year and had decided it was it was time ‘to leave the responsibility to the next generation’ – namely her eldest son.

But speculation has continued to mount that the decision was made to keep Frederik’s wife of 19 years, Mary, who is extremely popular with the public, on side.

Australian-born Mary has won over the Danish public with her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language, with a recent poll finding 85 per cent of Danes have a positive opinion of the 51-year-old. 

Her husband is also similarly popular, having turned his public image around from being a rebel tearaway and party boy during his youth to becoming a ‘woke’ family man.

The abdication means Mary, who first met Frederik at a pub in Sydney, has now become the world’s first Australian-born queen.

She was working as an advertising executive when she first met Frederik in a packed city pub 23 years ago and had no idea the handsome European tourist she had been chatting to for hours was actually the future king of Denmark.

Now, married for 19 years and proud parents to four children, Mary has won her adopted country over by her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language.

And despite speculation about the state of the royal couple’s marriage over the years, there is nothing concrete to suggest they are anything but happily married.

The pair was most recently rocked by rumours after photographs emerged of Frederik, 55, apparently enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid in October.

But despite allegations of an ‘affair’, Frederik and Mary have continued to put on a show of unity at various recent events. 

The abdication may not come as a total shock to all: according to one source from 2021, stepping down has been on Margrethe’s mind for quite some time now.

Speaking to Woman’s Day, the insider explained that the royal had been slowly but surely guiding her daughter-in-law for the duties over the years.

And for several reasons, the timing for stepping down seemed appropriate.

For example, in February, Margrethe underwent a successful back surgery. ‘The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,’ she said in her speech.

In addition, the timing of the move has raised questions, as it comes just weeks after Frederik hit the headlines when he was pictured on a night out in Madrid with a Mexican socialite, sparking rumours of an alleged ‘affair’.

Speculation is mounting that the decision was made to keep Frederik’s wife of 19 years Princess Mary, who is extremely popular with the public, on side.

Princess Mary, who is set to become the nation’s first Australian-born queen in a number of weeks, has won over the Danish public with her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language.

Her husband is also similarly popular, having turned his public image around from being a rebel tearaway and party boy during his youth to becoming a family man.

However, their relationship came under scrutiny last year when Frederik was spotted on a night out with Mexican reality star Genoveva Casanova in October.

While the Royal Household refused to comment on photos of the pair together, Genoveva issued a public statement denying any kind of romantic relationship and called the rumours ‘malicious’.

Thanks to Mary’s reported closeness to her mother-in-law, and her taking on advice and guidance, according to royal reporter Kenth G. Madsen, Mary will ‘play a very prominent role’ and ‘will not be an invisible queen’.

However, he also explained she may, to avoiding straying into political territory, need to be careful with initiatives around women’s and children’s rights abroad.

She and Frederik may also need to encompass causes Margrethe was passionate about, to expand their repertoire – ‘so that it is not just the more modern topics’.

One of the trickier aspects Mary may find about being Queen is living so far from her native Australia.

While she has spent more than two decades in Denmark, her new responsibilities may mean she has less opportunity to visit home.  

It is possible that Mary’s new duties will affect how often she is able to visit her home in Australia. 

And the royal appeared very emotional as she wrapped up her pre-Christmas break Down Under earlier this month.

Departing from Queenstown Airport in New Zealand after a four-day trip amid a visit to her native Australia, Mary appeared to wipe away a tear as she said goodbye to friends and prepared to make the journey back to Denmark. 

She also shared a post about loneliness and the need for positive human connection during the festive period.

In the letter posted on the Mary Foundation website, the future queen reflected on the past year – and said she felt it was shorter than previous years.

‘And at the same time, so much has happened that it is impossible to put it all into words,’ she continued.

An excerpt shared on the official Instagram account for the Danish Royal House had some speculating the princess was using her foundation to hint at the affair rumours.

‘We need each other if we are to succeed. And that’s not only true in the working world and for those of us who are working to combat social isolation,’ it read. ‘This is true for all of us. Humans need humans.’

The touching words were shared alongside a stunning picture of the royal in the snow. She wore a purple jacket beneath a warm wool wrap and gave a soft smile towards the camera.

‘The Danish royal family are lucky to have you. I hope your husband realises he has embarrassed you and his children immeasurably. You will make a fine queen,’ one fan commented.

Another wrote: ‘I think this is a sad year for Mary, her husband’s (alleged) betrayal and it’s public. What a brave woman, she can handle anything. I just adore her.’ 

The Danish King and his wife first met in her native Australia during the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

After an encounter at the Slip Inn, then 32-year-old Fred asked Mary, then 28, for her phone number and a romance blossomed.

‘The first time we met we shook hands. I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, “Do you know who these people are”?’ Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen’s Studieskolen in 2001.

In early 2003, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8.

However, at least for now it looks like they are planning to continue living in their current residence.

Currently, Mary and her family reside in Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg.

She and Frederik took over the property from the State in 2010 – when a full refurbishment and restoration was completed after six years. 

Today, it is their private residence with administrative and ceremonial functions. 

They also reside at the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace. According to royal reporter Kenth G. Madsen, the couple will live in their current accommodation and have no plans to relocate.

The Crown mag dan vorig jaar ten einde zijn gekomen, maar een nieuw koninklijk drama staat al klaar om het gat op te vullen dat achterblijft.

Slechts enkele dagen na haar troonsafstand werd aangekondigd dat de levensgebeurtenissen van koningin Margrethe II van Denemarken worden omgezet in een televisieserie.

De serie, getiteld 'The Grace of God', begint in Margrethe's geboortejaar 1940 en zal worden geproduceerd door de Noorse zender TV 2 en de Deense Sam Productions.

Margrethe, die in 1972 de troon overnam, was de langstzittende monarch in Europa na de dood van koningin Elizabeth II in september 2022 vóór haar troonsafstand.

De serie zal zich richten op het leven van Margrethe en 'zal de koninklijke familie ten goede of ten kwade omarmen, op de harde vloer en in de politieke dilemma's, maar bovenal is het een verhaal over een meisje en haar familie', aldus Geluidslocatie.

Producent Meta Louise Foldager Sorensen zei dat de show een nieuwe kant van de voormalige monarch zal onthullen.

'Dit is het moment om het prachtige verhaal te vertellen, dat ons een inzicht kan geven dat we nog niet eerder hebben gehad', zei ze.

In navolging van The Crown zal de show ook details bevatten van de levens van verschillende anderen in de koninklijke familie en het hof van Amaliaenborg.

Details over het nieuwe project zijn schaars en de acteurs moeten nog worden gecast, maar de opnames beginnen in 2025.

Sinds 1972 slaagde de koningin erin een enigszins normaal leven te leiden. Ze werd bekend om haar kettingrookgewoonten en was zo 'normaal' dat ze vaak in de supermarkt werd opgemerkt.

De Koningin van vele talenten werd in 2021 zelfs ingehuurd als decorontwerper voor een romantische fantasyroman van Out of Africa's Karen Blixen, een van de internationaal meest erkende vrouwelijke auteurs van Denemarken, voor een Netflix-film.

Vorig jaar haalde de vorstin het nieuws toen ze besloot de koninklijke titels af te nemen van de vier kinderen van haar zoon prins Joachim.

Het paar had een hechte relatie en had een band opgebouwd tijdens verschillende staatsbezoeken aan elkaars landen in de afgelopen decennia – meest recentelijk in 2000, toen Margrethe werd ontvangen in Windsor.

Margrethe, nu 83, woonde de begrafenis van koningin Elizabeth bij, maar onderging in februari een grote rugoperatie en kon niet bij de kroning aanwezig zijn.

Margrethe werd geboren op 16 april 1940, een week nadat nazi-Duitsland Denemarken was binnengevallen.

Door de bezetting werd het prinsesje een symbool van hoop voor de Denen.

Ze besteeg de troon op 15 januari 1972, na de dood van haar vader.

Maar hoewel ze zijn oudste kind was, werd ze pas in 1953 vermoedelijke opvolger, toen de Deense grondwet werd gewijzigd om vrouwen de troon te laten erven.

Dat volgde op een referendum waarin ruim 85 procent van de deelnemers stemde voor vrouwelijke opvolging.

Op de dag dat ze monarch werd, verscheen ze op het balkon van het Deense Christiansborg-paleis en beloofde ze trouw aan de natie.

De 31-jarige monarch droeg een zwarte sluier en jurk versierd met de versierselen van de Orde van de Olifant en de Familieorde van haar vader, koning Frederik IX, bevestigd aan haar jurk: 'Mijn geliefde vader, onze koning, is dood.

'De taak die mijn vader bijna 25 jaar heeft gedragen, rust nu op mijn schouders. Ik bid tot God om mij hulp en kracht te geven om de zware erfenis te dragen. Moge het vertrouwen dat aan mijn vader werd gegeven, ook aan mij worden verleend.'

De vorst werd de eerste koningin van Denemarken sinds Margrethe I in het begin van de 15e eeuw en baande een pad dat tot op de dag van vandaag voortduurt.

Ze is een populaire koningin en staat bekend als de 'volksmonarch' dankzij het feit dat ze niet alleen haar eigen boodschappen doet, maar ook een bloeiende carrière heeft als illustrator en ontwerper en tot 2015 de conventies trotseerde door in het openbaar op te lichten.

Margrethe heeft ook aan vijf universiteiten gestudeerd en is een toegewijd anglofiel.

Ze bracht een jaar door op de kostschool North Foreland Lodge in Hampshire, en ging vervolgens prehistorische archeologie studeren aan het Girton College, Cambridge.

De toenmalige prinses studeerde in 1965 ook aan de London School of Economics.

In een interview ter gelegenheid van het platina jubileum van de koningin afgelopen juni vertelde Margrethe hoe de koningin een ‘enorme indruk’ op haar had gemaakt, vanwege de manier waarop ze ‘haar plichten heeft vervuld, de manier waarop ze toegewijd is, maar ook dat ze het doet. met een glimlach.'

Het paar zou bijnamen voor elkaar hebben gebruikt, waarbij de koningin haar Deense tegenhanger 'Daisy' noemde en Margrethe 'Lilibet' gebruikte – de naam die door haar naaste familie werd gebruikt.

Margrethe staat bekend als 'Daisy' of 'tante Daisy' omdat de gelijknamige bloem zowel in Zweden als Denemarken bekend staat als 'marguerite'.

Beide vorsten deelden ook een liefde voor honden, waarbij de koningin beroemd was om haar liefde voor corgi's – ze had er meer dan 30 in haar leven – en Margrethe een voorkeur voor teckels.

Koningin Margrethe was familie van Hare Majesteit via koningin Victoria, wiens derde zoon Prins Arthur, hertog van Connaught, de overgrootvader van Margrethe en de oudoom van Hare Majesteit was.

Margrethe's Huis van Glücksburg en het Huis van Windsor zijn ook met elkaar verbonden door Margrethe's betovergrootvader, Christian IX.

Zijn dochter, Alexandra, trouwde met Edward VII, de oudste zoon van koningin Victoria.

Hij was de overgrootvader van de koningin en de betovergrootvader van koning Charles III.

Hare Majesteit bezocht Denemarken voor het eerst in 1957, toen Margrethe's ouders, koning Frederik IX en koningin Ingrid, op de troon zaten.

Haar tweede reis in 1979 wordt herinnerd vanwege het ongemakkelijke moment waarop een Deense soldaat tijdens de parade in Kopenhagen van zijn paard werd gegooid – en Hare Majesteit begon te glimlachen.

Margrethe sloeg beschaamd haar hand voor haar mond, maar kon het niet laten ook een glimlach te verraden.

Een andere huzaar had toen moeite zijn paard onder controle te houden en het galoppeerde vanaf de achterkant van de groep omhoog voordat het om de koninklijke koets heen steigerde.

Gelukkig verliep de rest van het bezoek zonder verder drama.

Toen Margrethe in 1974 Groot-Brittannië bezocht, begroette de koningin haar met een grapje en zei: 'Er was eens een tijd dat het nieuws over de aankomst van Denen aan onze oostkust allesbehalve goed nieuws was.'

Bij haar tweede bezoek in 2000 sprak ze over haar 'sympathie' met het jonge Britse koningshuis en zei: 'Het is veel gemakkelijker om een ​​Prins van Denemarken te zijn dan een Prins van Wales. Onze jongeren zijn meer met rust gelaten dan de jonge leden van de koninklijke familie in Groot-Brittannië.'

Margarethe bracht een ontroerend eerbetoon aan de koningin toen ze afgelopen september stierf, voordat ze naar Groot-Brittannië kwam voor haar begrafenis.

Ze had ook een goede band met de hertog van Edinburgh en uitte haar verdriet over zijn overlijden op 99-jarige leeftijd in april 2021.

Het paar had een tumultueuze verbintenis achter de rug, waarbij Henrik op een gegeven moment zijn land voor enkele weken verliet na een uitbarsting.

Het stel ontmoette elkaar in Londen tijdens Margrethe's studententijd daar.

Ze trouwden in 1967 en verwelkomden het jaar daarop hun eerste zoon Frederik, de huidige troonopvolger. Prins Joachim arriveerde vervolgens in 1969.

Eerder dit jaar legde ze haar schokkende beslissing uit om Joachims kinderen – prins Nikolai, 23, prins Felix, 20, prins Henrik, 13 en prinses Athena, 11 – te ontnemen van zijn eerste huwelijk met hun prins- en prinsessentitels, wat een onbetamelijke familie uitlokte. rij.

In oktober 2022 verontschuldigde ze zich voor het feit dat ze ‘onderschat’ had hoezeer Joachim en zijn familie zich ‘getroffen’ voelden door haar beslissing.

Margrethe wilde de Deense monarchie afslanken en het aantal werkende royals terugdringen en ze zei dat ze dacht dat het beter voor haar was om actie te ondernemen in plaats van de last over te laten aan haar oudste zoon als hij koning wordt.

The tectonic plates are shifting. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has handed over the reins of power after 52 years on the throne. 

And even that marathon shift  was overshadowed by the extraordinary 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022.

European royalty is entering uncharted waters – the more so as widespread legal changes mean that in the majority of countries, girls are now entitled to inherit the crown.

We know all about King Charles III, who after seven decades of waiting for the crown, must be one of the most closely scrutinised figures in the world.

After Sunday’s accession to the throne, King Frederik of Denmark, too, must get used to a life lived in unforgiving spotlight of publicity.

We know about Prince William. But what about the others now waiting in the wings? 

Meet the princes and princesses whose time has almost come 

Princess Leonor of Spain, 18

Leonor, Princess of Asturias and heir to the Spanish throne, is riding a wave of popular enthusiasm following her 18th birthday and a special ceremony of dedication to the constitution.

Crowds lined the streets and a country often thought of as political fractious was united. 

Leonor is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, but only  so long as her parents don’t give birth to a son. 

Spain still have male primogeniture when it comes to the crown and its succession. 

(Although the arrival of a baby brother now seems vanishingly unlikely). 

Her sister, Princess Sofía, is two years her junior. 

Leonor has been honing her skills to become queen from a young age and is believed to speak four languages.

The composed princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was just 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution.

In 2019, she delivered an impressive speech at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona in four languages – Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic.

As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics and play the cello.

The royal made her first solo appearance without her mother and father aged 15 as she presided over the Cervantes Institute’s 30th anniversary in Madrid in 2021.

She was welcomed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo and the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, sitting front row at the event.

Six months later, the princess headed to Wales to study at the private Atlantic College.

Nicknamed ‘Hippie Hogwarts’, the school curriculum has included unusual activities such as Tai Chi and Tibetan literature. It has a remarkable cliff top location in a 12th century castle in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Leonor enrolled on a £67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school, which she has now completed.

Meanwhile, Leonor was recently pictured at military school for the first time as she embarks upon three years of training.

The heir to the Spanish throne must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe.

It has also been revealed that the young Princess would go on to study law at university once her training with the military is complete, although her choice of university has not yet been revealed. 

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

 Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 20

Catharina-Amalia became the heir apparent when her grandmother Queen Beatrix abdicated in 2013.

The Queen’s son, Willem-Alexander, took over as monarch and Catharina-Amalia became Princess of Orange.

Along with her sisters Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, Catharina-Amalia spent the early years of her life at Eikenhorst Villa in Wassenaar, an affluent suburb of The Hague.

Willem-Alexander once said in an interview: ‘We do our best to be really with them – on holidays or weekends or even at breakfast in the mornings.’

The family enjoyed days out cycling and to the beach, and holidays to Argentina,  the homeland of Amalia’s mother, Queen Maxima.

The family moved to Huis ten Bosch, the royal palace in The Hague, when Willem-Alexander became monarch n 2013.

The Princess attended school at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet in The Hague where she sat on the student council and took part in the Model United Nations of the International School of The Hague.

She decided to take a gap year before starting her degree and turned down a €1.6 million yearly allowance that she would have been entitled to when she turned 18.

Writing a letter to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, she said that she would not feel comfortable taking the money without performing royal duties. 

The letter, published by NOS, the Dutch public news broadcaster, read: ‘On 7 December 2021, I will be 18 and, according to the law, receive an allowance.

‘I find that uncomfortable as long as I do not do anything for it in return, and while other students have a much tougher time of it, particularly in this period of coronavirus.’ 

In September last year, the Princess began studying Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam and revealed she would live in a rented house share with her fellow students.

However, the Princess was forced to move out of her student accommodation and return to The Hague the following month fearing a gangland plot to kidnap her.

Earlier this year, the royal opened up about ‘missing normal life’ over the incident and in a clip shared by NOS, she said: ‘I’m going to be very honest, I’m still having a very hard time. 

‘I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store,’ she added.

Her mother, Queen Maxima, spoke openly during a state visit to Sweden with her husband King Willem-Alexander and was quoted by Dutch news agency ANP saying: ‘She can hardly leave the house.

‘The consequences are very difficult for her. There is no student life for her like others have,’ she added with an unusual candour.

In an authorised biography entitled Amalia, released in 2021, the royal admitted she did not feel ready to be Queen yet.

She said she would ask her mother to step in temporarily if her father were to die suddenly.

‘But I said to my father: you just keep on eating healthy and exercising a lot,’ the teenage princess added.

Biographer Claudia de Breij revealed Amalia had a part-time job at a beachside cafe, feels self-conscious when she is recognised by members of the public and would pursue a career as a singer or equestrian – she is a keen jockey with a horse named Mojito – if she was not destined to be queen. 

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 22

Princess Elisabeth is the eldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium’s four children.

The law was changed in 1991 so that the eldest child, regardless of whether they are a son or daughter, would be the next to inherit the throne. When her father became King in 2013, Elisabeth became the heir to the throne and Duchess of Brabant.

The young royal was also a former student of Atlantic College in Wales, obtaining her International Baccalaureate in 2020.

She then completed a one-year course in social and military sciences at the Royal Military Academy which is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence: Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.

In 2021, she was photographed at the Lagland camp in Arlon, where she marched in formation with her fellow cadets.

For the officer cadets of the Royal Military Academy, this camp is part of the last training phase for first year students, and constitutes part of the Initial Military Phase.  

In October 2021, the Princess began studying History and Politics at Lincoln College, Oxford.

According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history ‘anonymously’ so that her social status would not affect her marks.

Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with graduates from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life.

The high-achieving Princess, who is fluent in Dutch, French, German and English, continues to juggle her degree with military training back home.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Today the princess plays an assured role as heir to the throne, but life was not always so straightforward. In fact, she has been unusually open about her teenage struggles with anorexia.

Victoria has found herself at the cutting edge of another struggle, also – the right of women to inherit ahead of their brothers, as had been traditional.

In 1979, Sweden was among the very first monarchies to introduce absolute primogeniture, a move only followed by the United Kingdom in 2013.

The Crown Princess, now 45 years old, began to assist her parents King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with their work after turning 18 in 1995.

But this came at a cost, she has explained. Being first in line to the Swedish throne meant she put intense pressure on herself to the detriment of her health.

‘I wanted all the time to do and be so much more than I realistically could do, or could be,’ she said.

When she is crowned, Victoria will become the first reigning queen in the royal family of Sweden since 1818 following the parliamentary change to the Act of Succession that introduced absolute primogeniture.

In November 1997, the palace announced she was suffering from an eating disorder.

This followed an intense wave of public concern after she was photographed looking noticeably thinner in a sleeveless dress at the Order of the Innocence Ball in April of that year.

Just as the 20-year-old Victoria was due to start at Sweden’s Uppsala University, she knew she needed to get help and postponed her place, deciding to take time for herself in the United States instead.

She said: ‘In the US, I got professional help, which was really important for me. Just learning to put words to feelings and thus, be able to set limits and to not push myself too much, which I found easy. I wanted all the time so much more than I could do, or could be.’

During an interview marking her 21st birthday, she revealed she had turned a corner and thanked the media for allowing her privacy to recover.

‘It’s not always about external problems. It can also come from within, and it can happen to everyone, not only young girls but also boys’.

She added: ‘I needed time to sort things out and get my balance back again.

‘I needed to get to know myself, discover where my limits were, not constantly push myself too much.’

Although this period in her life was incredibly difficult, which she said ‘it takes time, and hurts very much’, it also led her to her husband.

She met her now-husband, Prince Daniel, 49, who was her former personal trainer following doctor-ordered sessions.

The couple were married in 2010 after a long-term relationship, and are now parents to Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland, 11, and Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne, seven.

The mother-of-two is a full-time working member of the Swedish Royal Family, and as an ambassador in the Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group, she primarily works with issues concerning water and health.

Victoria admitted that to this day she continues to set a high drive for perfectionism, however, now she uses it to focus on her love for her country.

She said: ‘The downside is that you will never be completely satisfied. But it’s not entirely negative, of course, for this also applies to want to evolve and do my best. And that is what drives me to help Sweden.’

During her interview Victoria also spoke of her daughter, Princess Estelle, and how she sees a likeness in their qualities.

The Crown Princess said: ‘She is very courageous and social, and it is an asset in life and perhaps especially in the role she has. She is very curious about people.’

She explained how her daughter’s character would serve as a strength for when she ascends to the throne as Queen one day, adding that she gets her sociable nature from both her parents.

Victoria intends to let her ‘children be children’ away from the limelight and will introduce them gradually into their roles as royals, according to People.

Born in 2012, Princess Estelle is the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria and is next in line to the Swedish throne after her mother.

The princess previously attended a preschool near Stockholm which followed the Ur and Skur outdoor teaching methods to focus on the natural world.

She now attends Campus Manilla in Stockholm where she was joined last year by her younger brother, Prince Oscar.

The young Princess Estelle regularly makes appearances with her mother Crown Princess Victoria and her father Daniel Westling.

She carried out her first royal engagement in 2014 at just two years old when she opened a ‘fairytale path’ at Linköping Castle.

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, 18

Prince Christian of Denmark, 17, is the eldest child and only son of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

And following his father Frederik’s accession to the throne on Sunday, he is next in line. 

Christian was born on October 15, 2005, at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, and is known by his title of Count of Monpezat.

Prince Frederik and his wife followed the Danish tradition when naming their son – where each king alternates between the names Frederik and Christian.

This meant that a son born to Crown Prince Frederik would be called Christian.

Christian’s two middle names, Henri and John, are taken from his two grandfathers.

Just over a year later, the young Prince made his first visit to Australia at the end of 2006, with the family travelling to Tasmania to visit Princess Mary’s relatives.

Mary and Frederik chose to keep their son’s upbringing relatively private in his early years.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Christian eventually attended his first official royal engagement with his grandmother, the Queen.

His parents broke away from royal tradition when they decided to enrol him in preschool in 2007 and again in 2011 when he went on to primary school.

Christian became the first Danish royal to attend a public state school, Tranegårdskolen in Hellerup, and his siblings, Princess Isabella of Denmark, 15, and Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 10, joined him in the years that followed. 

At the start of 2020, all four of the royal children began a 12-week program at the Lemania-Verbier International School in Switzerland. But, just weeks into their studies the COVID-19 pandemic hit and they returned to Denmark.

Christian is currently undertaking the final years of his education at Ordrup Gymnasium, a public school in Copenhagen.

In June, Princess Mary’s eldest son shocked royal fans with a bold announcement ahead of his 18th birthday. The young prince will break protocol by forgoing his royal allowance to instead focus on his education.

While the future Danish King is entitled to government funding once he reaches adulthood, he will not accept payments and become a full-time royal until he is 21 years of age.

The statement to the Royal House’s Instagram page said Christian will refrain from the spotlight but one day return to making public appearances in an official capacity.

Prince Christian only appears on major events with the Danish royal family, including the recent 83rd birthday celebrations of Queen Margrethe.

There has been recent speculation that  Christian has become close to Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone-Two Sicilies.  

Prince Christian is fluent in Danish, English and French and is a keen sportsman. He plays football, rides horses and regularly takes part in runs with his parents.

And one who has faces a bit of a wait…

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 19

Second in line to the throne after her father, Princess Ingrid is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon, 50,  and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. She is granddaughter of current ruler, King Harald V of Norway, 86.

Ingrid Alexandra will become Norway’s second female monarch after her father secured her place in the line of succession by changing the law to allow first-born daughters to ascend the throne over their younger male siblings. 

The last Norwegian queen was 600 years ago: Queen Margaret reigned over Norway, Denmark and Sweden from the late 1380s until her death in 1412. 

Ingrid has a younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus and an older half-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, who is Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship.

In an attempt by her parents to give her as ordinary a childhood as possible, Ingrid Alexandra attended the same local primary school as her half-brother.

Newspaper reports said the princess would walk to school with Marius and school officials hoped to make it a place where she could make friends and enjoy some relief from public scrutiny.

She was later moved to a private international school in Oslo so she could become fluent in English and transferred to two more schools during her education.

The princess turned 18 at the start of last year and joined her grandfather, King Harald V, on the day for a cabinet meeting at the Royal Palace as she marked her coming of age.

In the next few years, she will increase her public profile and take on more responsibilities on behalf of the royal family but will continue to focus on her education, said the palace in a statement on her 18th birthday.

The pandemic meant that formal celebrations for the princess’s birthday were postponed. But she later held a glamorous party in June 2022 to mark the event in style.

A host of European royals were invited, including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and King Felipe VI of Spain – all of whom are godparents of the princess, with their spouses.

A group of young princesses also enjoyed the party, including Princess Estelle of Sweden, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium – all of whom are also in line to inherit the throne in their respective countries.

Ingrid Alexandra has taken part in a number of public engagements, including opening a public sculpture park within the palace gardens in her name in 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary of King Harald V’s reign.

She was shown given Prince William and Kate a tour of the sculpture park while they visited Norway in 2018.

The royal also toured several army and air force bases in Norway to learn more about the country’s armed forces. When she ascends the throne, she will become commandant of Norway’s armies.

In 2021, she visited a female-only squadron of the army to learn more about their work and co-piloted a plane during a tour of a royal air force base.

Sitting in the backseat of an F-16 fighter jet, the teenage princess observed as a trained pilot flew it away from the base, and later was allowed to control it briefly during a flight over Northern Norway.

She was also a bridesmaid at the wedding of her godmother, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, in 2010. 

Aside from her royal duties, Ingrid Alexandra enjoys skiing, boxer and surfer, winning a gold medal in the Norwegian surfing championship for juniors in October 2020. 

Queen Margrethe II signed her historic abdication yesterday after 52 years as Denmark's monarch, and a political commentator says the British royal family influenced her decision.

The 83-year-old Danish royal, who became queen in 1972, is “tired” after back surgery last year, according to political commentator Hans Engell.

However, the former minister also told the weekly See and Whorethat the real reason she resigned is because 'Mary and Frederik don't end up like Charles and Camilla'.

Engell said: 'There is no other explanation – apart from her health and her feeling tired – other than that she felt Frederick and Mary should not end up like Camilla and Charles, who became a royal couple at the age of 75, where they look more like a couple who need a sheltered home more than a castle.'

King Charles, 75, was heir apparent for 70 years and 214 days until his mother's death.

It made him the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history, surpassing William IV, who became monarch in June 1830 at the age of 64, as the oldest heir to become king.

His wife, Queen Camilla, is 76 years old and will turn 77 in July this year. She was also the oldest queen consort to be crowned in British history.

Queen Margrethe, Europe's longest-serving monarch, underwent successful back surgery in February following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

“The operation obviously gave rise to reflection on the future – whether it was time to pass the responsibility to the next generation,” she said in her speech.

“I've decided this is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.

“I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”

Yesterday, the festivities kicked off in Copenhagen when Denmark appointed Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary as their new king and queen.

A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 showed soldiers marching through the streets as excited crowds lined up to celebrate the low-key ceremony.

Born in 1940, Margrethe has enjoyed widespread support throughout her life from the Danes, who adore her tactful yet creative personality.

The monarch made headlines last year when she stripped the royal titles of the four children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim.

She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries over the decades – most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the decision in a press release paying tribute to the 83-year-old monarch and thanking Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom.

Margrethe is the “embodiment of Denmark,” Ms. Frederiksen's statement reads, and “over the years she has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation.”

The 1.80 meter tall Margrethe is one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen almost unaccompanied and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer.

She was an avid skier and, as a princess, was part of a Danish women's air force unit, where she took part in judo courses and endurance trials in the snow.

In 2011, at the age of 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan, wearing a military jumpsuit.

As monarch, she crisscrossed the country, regularly visiting Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories that are part of the Danish Empire, and was met by cheering crowds everywhere.

Denmark has Europe's oldest ruling monarchy, dating back to the Viking king Gorm the Elder, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, the Danish constitution strictly excluded her involvement in party politics.

Margrethe was born on April 16, 1940, a week after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. During the occupation, the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes.

She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after the death of her father.

But although she was his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when the Danish constitution was amended to allow women to inherit the throne.

This followed a referendum in which more than 85 percent of participants voted in favor of female succession.

She married a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat, later known as Prince Henrik, in 1967. They had two sons, Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.

Despite having a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik surprised Danes by saying he felt like his wife had cast him aside in his own home.

Prince Henrik died in 2018 at the age of 83.

The new king and queen of Denmark arrived in parliament today as they performed their first official engagement in their new roles.

Queen Mary, 51, in a blue skirt suit and dress hat, tiptoed up the stairs into Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen in towering stilettos, alongside husband Frederik, who looked suave in a navy suit.

The royal couple were joined by their son, the newly appointed Crown Prince Christian, 18, as well as Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe, who officially stepped down on Sunday after a 52 year reign.

Also joining the royals at the Danish parliament was Frederik’s brother Joachim, 54, who appeared at the ascension without his wife Princess Marie,  and Princess Benedikte, who is Margrethe’s sister.

Joachim, who famously fell out with his mother when his children lost their Prince and Princess titles, appeared to show it was all water under the bridge as he proudly stood alongside her today. 

Once inside, the family listened to speeches from Danish politicians, including the Prime Minister, before the Danish National Girls’ choir sang Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Denmark, my Fatherland,’ causing Mary to cry.

Perhaps in a nod that everything is peaceful within the family, second-born Joachim wore a tie emblazoned with elephants.

The Order of the Elephant (Elefantordenen) is Denmark’s highest honour. The honour is typically given to children of the monarch and their spouses, as well as heads of state and foreign royals. 

Braving the -2C (28F) temperatures and rainy weather, Mary and Frederik greeted their family outside the building before watching speeches by politicians. 

After entering parliament, Mary – clutching a bouquet – headed into the chamber with husband Frederik and son Christian sitting either side of her.

Joachim, Benedikte and Margarethe sat behind as they listened to a speech by Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister.

Other MPs also gave speeches before the Danish National Girls’ Choir – known as DR Pigekoret  – sang to the royal family. 

The choir performed, ‘Danmark, mit fædreland’ (Denmark, my fatherland) which was written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1850.

The poem is about his love for the Danish country and language, and is often proposed as a new national anthem of Denmark. 

The song is reportedly a favourite of he new Queen’s, who closed her eyes and looked emotional as it played.

‘It’s more than a song. It is a declaration of love for Denmark, for history, for the language, for the culture, for the landscape. A love song that even I, even though I was not born in Denmark, can feel deep in my heart. And I know that you don’t have to be born in a country to feel at home,’ she said during a speech in 2017.

Joachim, who famously fell out with his mother when his children lost their Prince and Princess titles, appeared to show it was all water under the bridge as he proudly stood alongside her today.  

It’s been a whirlwind start to the year for the Danish royals.

Queen Margrethe, 82, announced her abdication in a shock New Year’s Eve speech.

Yesterday,  100,000 Danes gathered on the streets of Copenhagen to celebrate King Frederik’s ascension.

An emotional Frederik promised to be a modern monarch ‘of tomorrow’ as he asked his ‘beloved wife’ and family for support during a new reign – but a body language expert has questioned how ‘spontaneous’ his kiss with Queen Mary was, as he sealed the moment with a public smooch.

In his first public speech after being proclaimed King, the father-of-four, 55, as per a translation by royal blogger Gert’s Royals, said: ‘My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the second, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. For half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point.

‘She will always be remembered as a Monarch beyond the ordinary. Like few, my mother has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on.

‘My hope is to become an unifying king of tomorrow. It’s a task I’ve been waiting for all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy.

‘It is a deed I will take pains to carry out and carry through the position I have been entrusted with.

‘I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone.

‘Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.’

The royal was visibly moved at Christiansborg Castle, and wiped away tears at the historic occasions as roaring crowds cheered him on.

But Frederik’s ‘genuinely happy and highly emotional display’ on the balcony revealed potential tensions in his marriage, a body language expert said.

Adrianne Carter told FEMAIL: ‘When Mary joins him we initially see quite a distance between the two of them as they hold hands, he moves closer which she accepts. A literal distance can often mean a distance in a relationship.

‘When the children join them, they all move in together. Mary encompasses her children showing that’s her important focus.’

However, when the King pulls Mary close as the children leave the balcony – Mary is ‘the first to pull away’. 

She continued: ‘Frederik gives Mary a win, which means we’re in this together. He pulls her in for a kiss, which he tries to do a few times before it actually happens. This is something he has planned, rather than something spontaneous.’

It comes following rumours that the couple’s marriage is on the rocks after Frederik was pictured with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid without his wife in October.

Just moments before his first appearance as King, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe II had signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said – and BBC reports say that her poignant last words before leaving the Council of State were: ‘God save the King’.

A beaming Frederik was then joined by his wife Mary – who is now Queen of Denmark – and their children Christian, 18, Isabella, 16 and twins Vincent and Josephine, 13. 

Sunday’s transferrence of power has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary – along with their son Prince Christian – made their way to Christiansborg Castle.

A procession of cars set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg.

Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX’s Palace.

Both passed through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard on the way.

At Christiansborg Palace, Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian all took part in a Council of State at with the Government and the Council of State secretary and Her Majesty signed a declaration of her abdication. 

Margrethe then made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary are holding a formal reception for specially invited guests.

At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister then proclaimed the King’s accession to the throne.

After this, the newly crowned monarch made an impassioned speech as he admitted his wish to be a ‘unifying king’.

‘I need all the support I can get,’ he revealed. ‘From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone.

‘Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.’

It was followed by an honorary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery – a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen – and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX’s Palace (Margrethe’s home) and reraised at Frederik VIII’s Palace, where the new King and Queen are based.

Frederik and Mary then took part in a carriage ride from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, escorted by a mounted squadron. 

At 5pm Danish time, there was a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX’s Palace to Frederik VIII’s Palace.

Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne also said there were ‘no signs of nervousness’ from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage – and waved – when the festivities kicked off Sunday.

‘Genuine smiles from the Queen in the carriage,’ she explained.

‘Full beaming smiles, she’s enjoying seeing so many people in attendance.’

Copenhagen’s streets were lined to the brim as Sunday’s festivities kicked off in the morning.

A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony.

Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II’s abdication – which she announced on New Year’s Eve.

Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables this morning.

And earlier Sunday, soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment appeared to have been rehearsing for the day’s events.

Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen queued to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X, displayed in the window of the well-known confectionery shop La Glace.

And the celebrations began as early as last night as Margrethe was seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen on the eve of her abdication. 

The royal, 83, ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and became Europe’s longest-reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. 

The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style – was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. 

Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down.

However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future.

‘The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,’ she said in her speech.

‘I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.

‘I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.’

The monarch delivered the shock news during her traditional New Year’s Eve speech.

Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe – and this morning, wellwishers have already started to set up outside Christiansborg Palace Square.

A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe’s winter residence last night.

One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her.   

Wellwishers with folding chairs donning Danish flags have already started to excitedly line the streets in preparation for this afternoon’s events. 

The historic occasion is sure to be an exciting event for the nation – but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles’s ornate Coronation in May.

Queen Margrethe, who took to the throne in 1972, has become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne.

However, during an interview in 2016, she expressed a different opinion.

She said: ‘It’s always been: you stay as long as you live. That’s what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too.’ 

‘It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now,’ said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark.

‘He’s 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.’ 

The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy.

The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary.

‘The royal family means everything that is Danish. It’s fairytales and traditions,’ said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country’s famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen.

The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. 

It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple.

However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an ‘invisible pact’ between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate.

Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark’s changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne.

New Danish royal titles and line of succession

CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK WILL BECOME KING     

Frederick, 55, formerly known as Crown Prince Frederick – is set to become His Majesty King Frederick X.

Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be known as Her Majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe. 

CROWN PRINCESS MARY WILL BECOME QUEEN 

Meanwhile, his wife Crown Princess Mary – who is very popular with the Danish public due to her dedication to royal duty and commitment to learning the language – will become Queen Consort. 

She is also set to become the nation’s first Australian-born queen.

The couple, who met in a bar in 2000 during the Olympics in Sydney, share four children, who each occupy the next spaces in the line of succession.

PRINCE CHRISTIAN WILL BECOME CROWN PRINCE 

Their son Prince Christian will become the next in line to the Danish throne at just 18.

His title will change to Crown Prince Christian as he will be the heir apparent. 

He may have to act as head of state when his father is out of the country. 

Princess Mary, Frederik’s brother Joachim, and Princess Benedikte are able to take over as head of state should Christian be too busy – however he will certainly be required to take on more official duties. 

Christian is often referred to as the ‘most eligible bachelor in Europe’ and his new title will only elevate that status even more.