Subtle clue in Queen Mary of Denmark's new royal portrait means she and King Frederik X are well and truly in a new era
Queen Mary and her husband, King Frederik X, are well and truly the new monarchs of Denmark – and if their emotional accession in January hadn't made that fact obvious, then a subtle detail in the couple's new royal portraits will.
Overnight, the Danish royal household unveiled the first official gala portraits of the Tasmanian-born Queen, 52, and her husband of 20 years.
In the portraits, Mary can be seen wearing the historic Danish Emerald Parure for the very first time, but there is one element of her newly-inherited crown jewels that has turned the heads of eagle-eyed royal watchers.
Watch the video above.
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In the first official portrait of Queen Mary and King Frederik X as monarchs, Mary can be seen wearing a special brooch. Steen Evald, Kongehuset
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Namely, her brooch, which is also known as the Ordensportrættet.
On becoming Queen, Mary gained access to four sets of crown jewels – known as garnitures – featuring matching earrings, brooches and necklaces.
These sets include a brilliant-cut diamond set, a pearl-ruby set, a rose-cut diamond set, and the emerald set she is wearing in the portraits, which is the only one to have a matching tiara.
When she's not wearing them, the sets are displayed in The Treasury's secured basement under Rosenborg Castle.
They never leave the country, which means Mary will not be seen wearing them during her first state visits as Queen – to Sweden and Norway – in May.
As explained by the Danish royal household on Instagram, Mary's brooch features a miniature portrait of her husband, which is adorned by a bow of the Order of Dannebrog ribbon.
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The brooch has a portrait of her husband encased in a gold frame, which is surrounded by diamonds. Steen Evald, Kongehuset
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"For generations, there has been a tradition that female members of The Royal Family wear a miniature portrait of the sovereign," the Danish royal household explained.
"Thus, in her time as Crown Princess, The Queen wore a portrait of Queen Margrethe [II]."
It's the first time Mary has been seen wearing this portrait of Frederik, 55, which was created by British artist Tom Mulliner.
Margrethe also would wear a portrait of a sovereign on her chest during her reign, however, she would not wear one of herself.
Rather, the former Queen – who announced her historic abdication on New Year's Eve during a video message broadcast to her constituents – wore a portrait of her late father, King Frederik IX, in the frame from 1972 until the succession of the throne in January.
Also in the new royal portraits of Mary and Frederik, which will be hung in official buildings around Denmark and in Danish embassies around the world, Australia's European royal can be seen with the Collar of the Order of the Elephant – Denmark's highest honour – draped over her shoulders.
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The designer of Mary's green dress, Birgit Hallstein, also made Mary's famous burgundy dress, which she most recently wore on New Year's Eve (pictured). DET DANSKE KONGEHU
Hallstein also helped create Mary's 2004 wedding dress. UK Press via Getty Images
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It is rare that Mary wears new outfits, with the Queen often opting for a sustainable re-wear, but her green dress, made of silk velvet with long lace sleeves and a lace neckline, was designed and created specifically for the new portraits.
It was made by Birgit Hallstein, the designer and dressmaker who also helped create her white accession ensemble and her wedding gown.
The silk velvet material is the same type of material that Mary's famous burgundy gown, also from Hallstein, is made of.
She most recently wore the burgundy gown on December 31, hours after her mother-in-law made her shock abdication announcement.
Mary's husband, meanwhile, wore military attire for the new portraits, and also sported the Collar of the Order of the Elephant.
The portraits were taken by photographer Steen Evald in the Green Room in the Royal Reception Rooms at Christiansborg Palace, which is the previous residence of the Danish royal family.
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Denmark's royal line of succession. 9Honey/ Tara Blancato
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It was destroyed by fire and refurbished, and now houses the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of State.
Mary, Frederik, and their children – Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 13 – live in Frederik VIII's Palace at the Amalienborg Palace complex.
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