How low has she gone? Danish Princess Mary has been the queen of deep bows, as these extraordinary photos show. (But that all ends on Sunday – when, like true queen, she bends the knee to no one!)
We’ll no doubt see more of Princess Mary when her mother-in-law steps down on Sunday and becomes the younger woman Queen Consort.
Queen Margrethe made the surprise announcement that she is stepping down in a live broadcast to the country on New Year’s Eve.
But there’s one thing we’ll see less of — and probably never see again: those remarkable low bows for which she became known.
Whether it’s a tribute to her natural strength or a vigorous workout regimen, it was quite something to walk in heels without so much as a hint of wobble.
It looks like the queen of bows will be no more. But here are some of her more notable performances to remember…
Princess Mary’s knee almost touches the floor as she receives King Felipe of Spain as he lands in Copenhagen
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark pays her respects to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in 2015
This time it’s her mother-in-law, soon-to-be Queen Regent, Margrethe, who gets the low-down treatment. She seemed to see the funny side of this 2007 encounter
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark bows to King Harald of Norway as they arrive in New York along with other Nordic heads of state in 2011
Crown Princess Mary’s knees are just inches off the ground as she is welcomed by Japan’s Emperor and Empress Michiko in 2015
Does Queen Margrethe push him down or help her up at the opening of the Danish parliament in 2014? Anyway, it’s a bit of a laugh
Queen Margrethe of Denmark and her husband Prince Henrik arrive at the Parliament Building in Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen
A particularly elegant bow to Crown Princess Mary during the court banquet during the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo