Queen Mary and King Frederick have opted to work through the 20th anniversary of their “fairytale” wedding and take a royal tour of Norway.
May 14 marks two decades since the couple said “I do,” but instead of spending time alone, the couple will lay a wreath, visit the Norwegian president of the Storting, and tour Science City in Oslo.
The couple will spend the evening at a gala dinner that will begin at 8:00 p.m. The next day will be complemented by a morning visit to Ostmarka, the picturesque forests, a lunch with the Prime Minister and a tour of Oslo’s waterfront.
The tour, their second since taking the throne, appears to be at odds with their former “work hard, play hard” philosophy, as it leaves very little time for the “apparently estranged” couple to reconnect.
Even when King Frederick came to the throne, he said he would prioritize family and vacations, because “regular breaks are important.”
Queen Mary and King Frederick have decided to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary
The couple has prioritized romantic gestures and vacations in the past, causing people to question the move.
The royal couple’s decision to take advantage of the special occasion reflects body language expert Louise Mahler’s speculation that “the romance is over.”
Speaking to FEMAIL after the couple’s awkward TV interview last week, the pundit said the only obvious green flag for their relationship is their commitment to their roles as King and Queen.
“They don’t show any signs of being a (romantic) couple,” he said.
“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.
The couple has a very busy schedule on May 14, their anniversary, and the next day
Royal watchers said the couple’s decision to work on the big day raised eyebrows throughout Denmark.
‘…And then our royal couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary?’ A woman wrote on the schedule.
—On the day of the king and queen’s wedding? questioned another.
The popular royal couple’s ‘fairytale romance’ has been under the microscope since November 2023, when the then-Crown Prince was spotted ‘hanging out’ with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid.
Genoveva vehemently denied any wrongdoing after rumors surfaced that the two were having an affair.
The couple’s latest tour was described as “awkward” and their televised interview was labeled the same way.
Pictured: Dr. Louise Mahler, body language expert
But the rumors persisted after a series of photos were published showing the couple exploring the Spanish city.
The photos also appeared to show then-Crown Prince Frederick heading to Genoveva’s apartment, where they spent two hours before going out to dinner.
Since the alleged affair, the royal Instagram account has received thousands of comments condemning King Frederick and idolizing Queen Mary.
There has been speculation about every photograph of the royal couple taken since news of the alleged romance broke.
“How dare you hurt Mary,” one woman said.
“She holds her head so high he doesn’t even look at her,” said another.
Dr. Louise Mahler’s observations reflect some of the comments.
She says the couple appears to be very cautious when in each other’s company, where before they were tactile and relaxed.
“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 Australian-born queen has been caught on camera with a frown in the months since, replacing the beaming smile she used to wear.
The couple met at the Slip Inn in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Queen Mary moved to Denmark, gave up her Australian and British citizenships and learned the language.
The King and Queen’s relationship has been in the spotlight since King Frederik was spotted in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.
Body language expert Dr. Louise Mahler says their recent “love moments” have been for show, noting that they often use their arms and legs to block each other and tilt their heads outward.
She won the approval of Queen Margaret, married the young Prince Frederick and had four children with him before her “perfect” public image was damaged by persistent romance rumors.
The couple will tour the Faroe Islands in mid-June and Greenland in late June to early July.
