Mary of Denmark experienced the European handball final as if she were not a queen. She jumped, shouted, clapped, and celebrated every point like any fan in the stands. This time, Denmark won, and she was able to enjoy it at home, in the Jyske Bank Boxen pavilion in Herning.
Two years ago, she traveled to Germany for her first official trip as queen, only to see France take the title from them. Now, at last, she could make amends, and she did so with everything. Even her appearance conveyed a message.
We saw her sitting next to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, sharing laughter and comments about what was happening on the court. A few seats away, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was not in the same mood as he watched his team lose without a chance.
Mary was also accompanied by her personal secretary, Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe, who has been by her side for five years. It’s clear their relationship is going well, as they spent the entire afternoon laughing and celebrating together.
When the public address system announced that the queen would present the trophies, the pavilion erupted in applause. Popular support for the Danish monarchy has continued to grow since Frederik ascended the throne.
During the awards ceremony, Mary embraced coach Nikolaj Jacobsen. But it wasn’t one of those awkward moments that catches royalty off guard.
The coach later admitted that, in the euphoria of receiving the medal, he asked her if he could hug her. He knew he was breaking protocol, but she agreed.
Regarding her outfit, Mary wore black pants and a new blouse from La Bagatelle, the Bendix model in red with an Indian Ikat print, hand-woven in Copenhagen. The colors of the Danish flag are integrated into a single piece, also supporting local fashion.
Two years ago, she paired a red blazer with a white blouse to achieve the same effect, but in a more formal way. This time, she was more relaxed, in keeping with an evening where protocol took a back seat.
She completed the outfit with black boots, her red Hugo Boss bag, and earrings and a ring from Dulong Fine Jewelry. Nothing overdone, everything meaningful.