Every year, the Danish royal family partake in a festive pre-Christmas deer hunt.
This year was no different, with Crown Princess Mary and her husband, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, both attending along with their five-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
Confronting images emerged straight from the grounds of Fredensborg Castle, with the family inspecting the slain deer.
Mary takes her eldest, Prince Christian, to the 2010 hunt.
Christian was just two years old when he joined his parents at the 2007 hunt.
And while the royals have hunted for hundreds of years, nonprofit organisation, PETA has slammed their actions.
“There is nothing noble about shooting defenseless animals for fun,” PETA Australia’s Associate Director of Campaigns, Ashley Fruno, told Woman’s Day Online in a statement.
“Given the now well-established link between cruelty to animals in childhood and violent behavior in adulthood, not only is it insensitive for Prince Frekerik and Princess Mary to teach their children that killing animals is acceptable, it’s also a poor parenting decision.”
“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.”
Concluding, “It is surely the parents’ responsibility to help children grow into compassionate leaders for their country, with respect for all living beings.”
The hunt takes place on the grounds of Fredensborg Castle, which is in the Northern part of Denmark. It is the same place Princess Mary and Prince Fred had their wedding reception.
The annual Danish tradition, which dates back to the 1800s, takes place in Gribskov, Denmark’s fourth largest forest.
The nation’s pro-hunting stance allows hunters to take away anything they like – unless, of course, it lies on private property.
The hunt usually takes place in late November.
Traditionally, Prince Henrik leads the hunt while Queen Margrethe heads up the “cultural events”, which include anything from craft classes to visiting local museums and galleries.
The Danish royal family have inherited some unique traditions.
While Mary is usually a regular at the event, the mother-of-four and her husband failed to turn up last year.
Danish news outlet TV2 reported that the Aussie-born royal was “not too keen on hunting” and “feels sorry for the deer”, adding that she is “upset when the animals suffer” if they don’t die from the first shot.
But this year it appears she has had a change of heart and was keen to show her twins the tradition.
Some may describe the practice as “archaic”, but the royals make sure the hunt is more than just fun and games.
Venison is a regular fixture on the Danish royal menu, and was even served at the royal wedding.
Watch the royals having fun in a more kosher fashion!
