EXCLUSIVE
Queen Mary of Denmark has ‘outclassed’ her husband King Frederik in their first interview since taking the throne, with their actions leaving experts wondering whether they are still a couple.
The Australian-born queen’s efforts in the interview, which was broadcast by Danish subscription television service TV 2, left royal fans confident that she has taken control, both in the relationship and in their public image, after a year of scandal.
Body language expert Dr. Louise Mahler told FEMAIL she believes Mary is clearly taking charge, while her husband is “left sulking” because he wants to be in control but is “not allowed to.”
King Frederick has previously revealed his struggle with having a strong wife, saying she has reminded him that just because he is a man does not mean he is “automatically believed.” He joked that she let him know that “he could be wrong.”
Dr. Mahler said that while the queen is usually warm and engaging, her body language shows that she is completely excluding King Frederick.
The couple’s body language during the TV 2 interview was ‘closed’ and ‘awkward’, with Queen Mary blocking King Fred with her hands and legs and leaning away with her shoulders as he ‘fidgeted’ the whole time (pictured)
Queen Mary, pictured here one step ahead of her husband, has ‘took control’ of the relationship and of the couple’s public image
‘Queen Mary is looking at Frederick, but her head is tilted away, while her hands are also folded over her right with her left hand, shielding Frederick. In that aloofness she seems calm,” she said.
“He, on the other hand, seems a little confused, his hands keep fidgeting,” she said, adding that the interview segment highlighted “orange flags” in their relationship.
She noted that while most couples would be given the benefit of the doubt based on the length of their relationship, this is not the case for the royal couple.
‘Given the previous tactile behavior and the rumors before the she [took the throne]you sense a challenge,” she said.
It is the couple’s first sit-down interview since their fairytale wedding was thrust into the spotlight over a rumored affair when the then Crown Prince was photographed on a night out in Madrid with glamorous socialite Genoveva Casanova in November.
The King and Queen have tried to convey the image of a ‘happy couple’, but experts claim it is just a carefully constructed facade
This photo – which gave the Danes hope that they had resolved all relationship problems – shows Mary trying to create as much distance as possible, leaning away with her head and shoulder while Frederik blocks her with his arm, his head forward leans and clenches his fists
In the interview, which was watched in full by FEMAIL, the king spoke in circles and often failed to get to a clear point – despite being asked very simple questions. It led many in the Danish press to complain that he came across as ‘ridiculous’.
He got off to a bad start when he talked about boarding the royal yacht, where the interview was held, for the couple’s tour of Scandinavia – a summer tradition for Danish rulers.
In the photo: Dr. Louise Mahler, body language expert
‘It’s not the first time I’ve boarded the Dannebrog, I’ve done it many times before. This time is very special, it fills me with pride and also with awe, as it is the first time that I am going on board as king with my queen. We are [here as a] royal couple. We are on the royal ship,” he said.
Queen Mary gave him the opportunity to answer each of the simple questions and appeared to grimace as he struggled to get his words out.
Throughout the interview, when it was clear the conversation was not moving forward, she took charge.
At one point, the couple was asked to share a favorite memory of the famous boat.
The king immediately jumped in, saying he had more memories of the boat than Mary had growing up and boarding with his family.
“I remember coming on deck with the conscripts, my brother and I wore the white uniform like the conscripts do – also with the hat,” he said.
He went into detail about the orders involved in preparing the ship for a royal voyage.
The King and Queen recently set out on their first diplomatic tour of Scandinavia as rulers
Mary took control while Frederik laughed at the floor and said her memories of the ship were wonderful.
She said they ranged from the warm welcome across Scandinavia as the ship entered foreign ports, to weaving between icebergs on the way to Greenland.
“Lately we have been fortunate to have our children with us,” she said, before recalling the moments when the family would jump off the boat into “the deep blue sea.”
In other parts, the king stuttered when asked how important his foreign relations are – before Queen Mary revealed they are crucial.
She added that they were nothing without their neighbors and that friendships with them will continue into the future.
They sat side by side, with King Frederick emphasizing the couple’s united front by using the word “we” instead of “I” numerous times.
Royal House commentator Jakob Steen Olsen believes the interview, including the delayed timing, suggests the couple want to continue as one after months of nasty affair rumors.
He added that the sharp language suggests the couple wants to “get off to a good start without any unpleasant questions or agendas.”
Mr Olsen said the television interview was the perfect “launch pad” for the couple who have remained relatively tight-lipped since the scandal.