Copenhagen’s Per Thornit Funeral Turns Into a Royal Battle: Danish Sisters-in-Law Mary and Marie Clash, Creating Tension in the Royal Family

The Danish royals attended a funeral in Copenhagen

Just days after supporting Danish athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, King Frederik and Queen Mary were reunited with Frederik’s brother, Prince Joachim, and Princess Marie.

The royals attended the funeral of Per Thornit, the former Chief of Court for Denmark’s royal family, at Holmens Church in Copenhagen on Thursday. 

As they arrived at the service, they were each seen comforting Per’s widow, Ulla.

And in a photograph published by Billed Bladet, Frederik, 56, and Joachim, 55, were also spotted embracing one another, while Mary and Marie exchanged warm glances.

Mourners at the service were respectfully dressed in black with Mary, 52, wore a blouse, a pleated skirt and a wide-brimmed hat, while her sister-in-law Marie, 48, donned a trouser suit.

Mary was also seen sporting a plaster on her chin, with the Danish royal palace confirming to Billed Bladet, that the queen caught it while out horse riding.

Per Thornit, who died on 30 July 2024 aged 82, was a former Danish Lord Chamberlain before he became Frederik’s head of court when he was Crown Prince.

He is said to have given Australian-born Mary “princess lessons” before she married Frederik in 2004. He resigned from his position in 2010.

Danish royals’ summer plans

Joachim and Marie currently reside in Washington D.C. where Joachim works as the defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy. Prior to that, they lived in Paris, where Marie was born.

The couple have been spending the summer at the Danish royal family’s property Château de Cayx in southern France, with their children, Count Henrik, 15, and Countess Athena, 12, and Joachim’s sons, Count Nikolai, 24, and Count Felix, 22.

Last weekend, Joachim, Marie, Henrik and Athena attended the Copenhagen Grand Prix, while Nikolai watched his girlfriend, Benedikte Thoustrup, make her debut on the runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Both Nikolai and Felix, whose mother is Joachim’s ex-wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, both have modelling contracts of their own.

Meanwhile, Frederik and Mary took up their summer residence at Gråsten Palace last month, as is tradition for the Danish monarch.

The couple also travelled to Paris to watch the action at the Olympics, attending a gala before the Games and the Opening Ceremony.

Mary has been among the spectators at the dressage, handball and swimming events, while Frederik has cheered on athletes in basketball, badminton, athletics and tennis.

The king and queen’s son, Crown Prince Christian, 18, has been acting as regent while his parents have been out of the country.

Christian graduated from high school earlier this summer. Frederik and Mary are also parents to Princess Isabella, 17, and 13-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, who joined them on their tour of Greenland in July.

The Danish royals continued their public appearances this week, as they attended a funeral in Copenhagen. King Frederik and Queen Mary, along with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, were present at the service for Per Thornit, the former Chief of Court for Denmark’s royal family. The somber occasion saw the royals offering comfort to Per’s widow, Ulla, with touching gestures of support. Frederik and Joachim were seen embracing each other, while Mary and Marie exchanged warm glances, demonstrating the close bond within the royal family.As is customary for such events, the mourners were dressed in respectful attire, with Mary opting for a blouse, pleated skirt, and a stylish wide-brimmed hat. However, the queen also sported a plaster on her chin, a result of a minor injury sustained while horse riding. Per Thornit, who passed away at the age of 82, had served as Danish Lord Chamberlain before becoming Frederik’s head of court during his time as Crown Prince. He was instrumental in preparing Mary for her role as a princess, providing her with valuable guidance and etiquette lessons.Away from the solemn atmosphere of the funeral, the Danish royals have been enjoying their summer in various locations. Joachim and Marie, along with their children and Joachim’s sons from his previous marriage, have been spending time at Château de Cayx in southern France. Meanwhile, Frederik and Mary have been residing at Gråsten Palace, with the king and queen recently traveling to Paris to support Danish athletes at the Olympics.Mary has been an enthusiastic spectator at a range of sporting events, including dressage, handball, and swimming, while Frederik has shown his support for athletes competing in basketball, badminton, athletics, and tennis. Their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, has been fulfilling his duties as regent in their absence, following his graduation from high school earlier in the summer. The royal couple’s other children, Princess Isabella and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, have also been actively involved in royal engagements, joining their parents on a tour of Greenland in July.The Danish royals’ presence at public events and their commitment to representing Denmark both domestically and internationally continue to exemplify their dedication to serving their country. Stay tuned for more updates on the royal family’s activities and engagements.

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Source: Tampa Bay Times

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