Queen Mary and King Frederick have likely angered thousands of Danes by sending a “clear message” about their new reign, after months of scrutiny surrounding their rumored marriage problems.
The new king and queen have decided to cut the number of charities and community groups that can be supported by the royal family at any time.
In doing so, 118 groups have been removed from the official list of royal patronages, leaving 140 represented by the family.
“Through our royal patronages, we wish to support efforts that promote Danish culture, science and enterprise, protect our nature and give a voice to the marginalized and vulnerable in our society,” a statement from the King and Queen read.
“This long tradition serves to unite us in communities large and small.”
Queen Mary and King Frederick have likely angered thousands of Danes by sending a “clear message” about their new reign, after months of scrutiny surrounding their rumored marriage problems.
Copenhagen Zoo has been brutally removed from the list of patronages supported by Queen Mary, despite an entire section being named after her.
The Danish Golf Union, the Danish Swimming Union, the Odense Flower Festival, the Greenland Christmas Stamp Fund and the Audition Association have also been cut.
Royals will also only sign up for a five-year period as patrons of any group; Once that period is over, the charity or organization will have to submit an application to be considered again.
“The time limitation means there will be continuing opportunities for the Royal Family to take on new patronages as the partnership develops,” the royal couple said.
This is the first time since he took the throne that a matter of politics has overshadowed the couple’s supposed romantic differences.
Copenhagen Zoo is among groups not receiving crown support – Queen Mary appears here after an Australian-themed garden is named after her
The Australian-born queen has adopted the Danish hospital clowns as one of her new patrons.
Danish royal expert and historian Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen says the reorganization will upset many and will have a huge financial effect on the organizations that have been cut.
However, he does believe the new King and Queen are opting for fewer patronages so they can put more effort into each other, which he says is “exciting.”
‘Now they have to live up to this. The royals must demonstrate that when you are a member of the Royal House, you really participate in the protectorates. And the fact that they are time-limited is again a promise that there will be activity,” he said. B.T.
As crown princess, Mary had 36 patronages to her name. Now as Queen she is only 23, some of whom have never before been represented by the crown.
The Queen added the Danish Hospital Clowns, a group she had previously posted about on Instagram, and WeShelter, which focuses on particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in the country.
Queen Margaret’s portfolio was reduced from 80 to just 21, some of which went to the king and queen, but most of which were left behind.
The patronage of Queen Margaret’s sister, Princess Benedikte, was also reduced.
She has also chosen to represent the Danish Independent Research Fund and remain committed to the UNEP Biodiversity Trustee and the Danish Nature Fund.
The Queen has welcomed the patronage of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Danish Cancer Society and the Diakonissestiftelsen, a health organization established in 1863 by Queen Louise of Queen Margaret.
Only 16 groups from its previous portfolio survived the drastic changes.
King Frederick’s portfolio has also changed dramatically: he retains only eight of his former patronages despite having decreased from 32 to 27 in total.
The King has taken on 14 of his mother’s patronages, including the American-Scandinavian Foundation, the Danish Bible Society, the Danish Sports Confederation (DIF), Greenland House and the Royal Danish Geographical Society.
He also chose to become “patron of the House of the North Atlantic in Odense and of the Projekt Koltur in the Faroe Islands, both with the aim of promoting knowledge of the culture and nature of the Kingdom, as well as of the Danish Center for Architecture, the Brain Prize and The Léonie Sonning Music Prize, which each, in their own way, focus on Danish design, science and culture in an international context.
Prince Joachim lost some of his workload, going from 40 to 23 patronages, but his wife regained some, moving her portfolio from 13 to 18 and balancing the workload.
The King is expanding his involvement in the green agenda as sponsor of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial.
His mother, Queen Margaret, experienced a huge cut in her portfolio, going from 81 to 20 groups and organizations.
Prince Joachim will represent only 24 groups and organizations, instead of 40. And Princess Benedikte will also work in a reduced portfolio that will go from 44 to just 25.
Princess Mary, Joachim’s wife, will take on more responsibilities and has agreed to become patron of the Prince Henrik school and the Stop Waster Food organization.
He will also take on King Frederick’s patronage of the Danish Dyslexia Association and Queen Mary’s patronage of Hjernesagen, an organization for people affected by brain injuries.
All patronages were suspended on January 14 when Queen Mary and King Frederick ascended the throne.
Since then, the royal house has been discussing how they should split up and who they should work with.
King Frederick and Queen Mary want to make it clear that they will continue to work outside of their patronages and that while each royal’s list of patronages reflects their passions and interests, it is “far from a complete description.”
The majority of the 4-500 points in the Royal Family’s official annual program consist of visits to institutions, organisations, companies and authorities that are not part of the patronage portfolio.
