Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark has stepped out wearing a sentimental outfit during a state visit to Sweden.
The 52-year-old wore a brooch that was a gift from her mother-in-law Queen Margarethe and which features Swedish and Danish roots.
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Mary received the gift after the birth of her first child Prince Christian, now 18, with husband King Frederik.
The gift has been passed down through the family, with Margarethe having received the present from her own mother, the late Queen Ingrid, who was Swedish-born.
And Ingrid had received the gift from her mother, Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden.
Mary previously wore the brooch to Christian’s baptism and confirmation.
The Danish royal couple’s official visit to Sweden comes after they gave their first interview since becoming King and Queen of Denmark, following the abdication of Queen Margarethe in January.
“We have embarked on our calling and our work, which symbolically happens with this action on the royal ship. It is very special,” Frederik told the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
Mary conceded that stepping into her new role was “overwhelming”, adding, ”It is very new and there are many changes and decisions”.
The pair also posed for their first portrait as King and Queen, standing side by side, dressed in royal regalia.
For the portrait, Mary wore a deep green velvet and lace gown and an heirloom emerald jewellery set.
Frederik was dressed in a gold-buttoned coat with epaulettes, a braided gold belt and various medals and insignia.
Some observers noted what appeared to be a strange anomaly where Mary’s lace-sleeved left arm meets Frederik’s right arm.
The Danish royal palace has since insisted the picture has not been edited, stating: “The Royal House’s official gala portrait has not been manipulated.”
The speculation comes in the wake of the admission by Catherine, Princess of Wales that she had edited a portrait with her children released on Mother’s Day in the UK.
The scandal around that picture eventually forced Kate to go public with her cancer diagnosis in March.
As for Mary and Frederik’s portrait, some people’s concerns had less to do with Photoshop than a perceived “stiffness” or awkwardness from Mary.
Late last year, a Spanish magazine, Lecturas, published bombshell allegations that Frederik was having an affair with a Mexican socialite, Genoveva Casanova.
The claims were furiously denied by Casanova; Frederick and Mary have not commented but the Danish royal family has said it does “not comment on rumours or insinuations”.
However, since the speculation surfaced, every public appearance or photograph of Mary and Frederik has been picked apart as royal followers looked for signs of tension in the marriage.
The Danish King and Queen have continued to present a united front after the unsubstantiated infidelity rumours.