Crown Princess Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik are two of the most popular royal figures, but the couple have angered animal rights activists with their latest move.
On Wednesday, the Danish royal family celebrated the annual King’s Hunt through the Gludsted Plantation and were then photographed outside the Fredensborg Palace for a traditional hunting parade.
Queen Margrethe along with the Crown Prince and Princess and fellow participants of the hunt watched the proceeds of the day where rows of slaughtered deer were laid on the palace lawns.
According to a Danish law, the royals are allowed to hunt in around one third of the country’s forests and tradition dictates that the yield from the hunt is read aloud, followed by a toast to the hunters.
The party were snapped inspecting the deer carcasses while Queen Margrethe and Crown Princess Mary shook hands and mingled with the huntsmen.
This is not the first occasion that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have been involved in hunting parties, but the parents of four have been slammed for the example that they’re setting for their children– Prince Christian, 14, Princess Isabella, 12, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, eight.
The Danish royals have been slammed for their latest hunting trip.
(Image: The Mega Agency)Ashley Fruno, the associate director of campaigns from animal right’s group PETA Australia, previously said of the royal couple, “Given the now well-established link between cruelty to animals in childhood and violent behaviour in adulthood, not only is it insensitive for Prince Frederik and Princess Mary to teach their children that killing animals is acceptable, it’s also a poor parenting decision.”
She added, “Few people today view hunting as anything other than a violent blood sport, a cheap thrill at taking a life and a display of wanton power over the powerless.”
“It is surely the parents’ responsibility to help children grow into compassionate leaders for their country, with respect for all living beings.”
Despite the controversial event, Crown Princess Mary was her usual stylish self as she stepped out with her husband and mother-in-law.
The Australian-born royal donned a pair of chic wide-legged pants and wrapped up from the chilly Scandinavian cold in a smart, buttoned coat with her trademark brown locks hanging loose.
Crown Princess Mary
(Image: The Mega Agency)Last year, Mary and Frederik’s family stepped out to attend the Hubertus Hunt, Denmark’s annual horse racing event.
The hunt is held every year in the Deer Park in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen and usually attracts up to 40,000 spectators and 160 hunters on horseback.
While their eldest son Prince Christian was absent from the event, Mary, Fred and the three youngest kids greeted well-wishers as they rode past on a horse-drawn carriage before taking to their balcony to watch the 13-kilometre race.
Watch the royals on their carriage ride in the player below.
