Queen Mary of Denmark stepped out Sunday night for her first solo event since she became queen consort on January 14.
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While King Frederik remained at home, Mary traveled to Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany to watch the Danish national men’s handball team take on France in the European championship match. Denmark lost, 33 to 31, and Queen Mary was on hand to present each member of the team with their silver medal. Afterward, the royal shared a post celebrating the team to her Instagram account, her first signed with “HM Dronningen,” which is Danish for “HM The Queen.”
“It was a very even match,” she said. “What a finale…. Well fought, Denmark. It was up close and nerve-wracking to witness. It has been an impressive effort that you have all made at the European Championship. Congratulations on the silver medal, which I had the honor to present.”
During the close match, Queen Mary sat next to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Hendrik Wüst, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia. Mary wore a burgundy Alexander McQueen blazer and black slacks, and she was photographed reacting with shock when the game slipped away from the Danish players. On Friday night, Mary and Frederik missed the tournament’s semi-final match and were spotted instead at the Royal Theater in the audience for a staging of Within the Walls. The classic play, which was written by Henri Nathansen and first premiered in 1912, was restaged this year as a part of the theater’s 275th anniversary celebrations.
This week will also include a few firsts for Frederik and the couple’s 18-year-old son Crown Prince Christian. On Wednesday, Queen Mary will join Frederik as he begins his first foreign tour as king. The pair will travel to Poland, where he will promote Danish businesses and visit the regional NATO headquarters. Ekstra Bladet reports that Christian will, for the first time, serve as regent while his father is away.
Originally published in Vanityfair.com
