Just three days after Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made the dramatic announcement of abdicating the throne in favor of her son, Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife, Princess Mary, reportedly appeared to be at a “freezing point” in their mood.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet cast doubt on the state of the couple’s connection in a terse account of their appearance at a reception to mark the New Year on Wednesday morning. It was their first public engagement since the abdication bombshell was dropped.
Their critical analysis of the couple’s demeanor began with a sharp suggestion that perhaps they had been served cold coffee, considering Denmark’s high coffee consumption and the locals’ reputation for not tolerating subpar cups.
Ekstra Bladet continued, stating, “In any case, the future royal couple did not appear to be enjoying themselves when they arrived at Christiansborg Castle on Wednesday morning. As they strolled past the press, words were exchanged between Frederik and Mary, and it didn’t seem like they were wishing each other good luck… The mood was at a freezing point.” the dramatic announcement
The newspaper used the phrase “stram ud i betrækket,” translating to “tight in the cover,” to describe Mary’s demeanor. In Danish, this expression conveys someone who is strict and inflexible, akin to a cover tightly stretched over an object.
Ekstra Bladet’s commentary noted that Mary did not seem thrilled about soon being called Denmark’s queen and observed that Prince Frederik was unable to summon a “big smile” for the reception.
The somber appearance of the couple is expected to revive rumors about their relationship struggles, initially sparked when Frederik was photographed on an evening out in Spain with a glamorous Mexican socialite.