ROYAL BIRTHDAY BASH
The Danish royals party on for Prince Frederik’s 50th.
In the lead up to his milestone birthday, Crown Prince Frederik proved to himself that age is just a number and encouraged Danes to do the same, taking part in a Royal Run on May 21, along with Crown Princess Mary, 46, and the couple’s four children, Prince Christian, 12, Princess Isabella, 11, and 7-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent. “When I turn 50 years old, I will celebrate the day with a race where all of Denmark can join,” he said before the 10km run. “Everyone is welcome, regardless of age.” The sporty outing kicked off a marathon of special events, including a May 24 unveiling of a portrait of the Prince by Australian painter Ralph Heimans at Frederiksborg Castle. Two days later, on his actual birthday, Frederik and family greeted the public from the balcony of Amalienborg Palace and later that evening at a gala thrown by Queen Margrethe at Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace, Mary gave a toast that was part romantic, part roast. “Your impact on people is unique, and I really don’t think you realise you have
that gift,” she said. “You are a positive person, and easily moved to laughter. And you are not stingy with your laughter … or your jokes for that matter. And often the two come together, you always laugh a lot at your own jokes,” she teased, in a speech mostly spoken in Danish. “I have simply lost count of the amount of times that you have told the same joke over and over again, it is as if you are trying to continuously perfect how they are delivered.”
There was also a jab about his workout wear: “Opinions differ as to whether Lycra and men that are 40-plus are a good combination. But darling you still look rather sharp in Lycra,” said Mary. “I do, however, find it a bit difficult when it comes to the combination of Lycra, helmet and roller-skis.”
Kidding aside, Frederik appeared moved as his wife relayed a message from their kids—“they describe you as sweet, fun, wonderful, wise, brave, helpful, cool and handsome,” she said. “You’re their hero”— and waxed lyrical about their love story. “I am so happy you swept me off my feet. And we dared to fall for each other not for a moment, but for life. And life with you is never boring.”