Queen Mary and King Frederick may be preparing to “celebrate” 20 years of marriage on Tuesday, but some claim their famous “fairytale romance” is over.
The couple, who met at The Slip Inn pub in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics, are known for their subtle but endearing displays of affection at public events.
But, according to the body language and vocal intelligence expert, Dr. Luisa Mahlertheir recent ‘loving glances’, linked arms and wide smiles are ‘all for show’.
She believes their affection has not been genuine since photographs of the King in Madrid with glamorous socialite Genoveva Casanova went viral, sparking rumors of an affair.
However, Dr. Mahler says their relationship will last thanks to one green flag: they both want to be King and Queen, and they want to do it together.
According to body language and vocal intelligence expert Dr. Louise Mahler, the couple’s recent “loving glances,” linked arms and wide smiles are “all for show.” The distance between them, the outward glances, the Queen’s posture, and the King’s clenched fist hint at romantic tension.
Queen Mary, pictured here one step ahead of her husband, has “taken the reins” of the relationship and the couple’s public image, Dr Mahler said earlier this week.
‘They show no signs of being a couple’ [romantically],’ she said.
Dr Mahler claims Queen Mary is blocking King Frederick during a recent interview, her first as monarch, with her hands and legs crossed. His head is also tilted out quite often.
‘She’s in control. “She’s in a bad mood and she needs to grow up,” she said.
Highly scripted appearances, including the awkward interview on Denmark’s TV 2 and their first tour of Scandinavia as leaders, help prove their point.
During the televised interview, King Frederik looks at his wife and smiles, although Dr. Mahler claims that the glances were “too short to be authentic.”
The couple is pictured on their wedding day on May 14, 2004.
During the televised interview, King Frederik looks at his wife and smiles, although Dr. Mahler claims that the glances were “too short to be authentic.” He regularly has his hands clenched into fists, indicating feelings of tension and discomfort.
“He doesn’t even look at her long enough for his eyes to focus,” she said.
Photos of the couple at actual engagements may show them walking arm in arm, but their “affection displays” are simply formulated for the crowd, Dr. Mahler says.
“It may be that after so many years this is understandable, but given the previous tactile behavior and the rumors before the coronation, there is a perceived challenge in their relationship,” he said.
The couple’s body language during the TV 2 interview was “closed” and “awkward”, with Queen Mary blocking King Fred with her hands and legs and leaning with her shoulders while he “moved” the entire time (in the photo). Read more about the strange appearance here.
Dr Mahler said the couple’s interactions changed after rumors emerged that Frederik had an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova (pictured).
In one photo, posted to Instagram by the palace, the couple smiles arm in arm for the crowd, but King Frederick’s hands are clenched into fists.
“There are signs of heads facing different directions, arms blocking contact with each other, and spatial distance as much as possible,” he said.
Dr Mahler believes he has completely “disengaged”, while Mary’s behavior has simply been “protective” since the family became embroiled in last November’s embarrassing scandal.
But there is hope for the couple, even if it’s not in a traditionally intimate sense.
“The good news is that here are two people totally committed to their role (as King and Queen) and playing the role as a couple,” he said.
“They’re together and maybe that’s all the nation cares about,” he said.