Queen Margrethe Firmly Corrects Daughter-in-Law Queen Mary for Petting Her Dog in Awkward Moment at Royal Event
Queen Margrethe Firmly Corrects Daughter-in-Law Queen Mary for Petting Her Dog in Awkward Moment at Royal Event
Janine HenniFri, April 17, 2026 at 2:48 PM UTC
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Queen Margrethe, Tilia the dachshund and Queen Mary at the celebration of Queen Margrethe's 86th birthday at Fredensborg Palace in Fredensborg, North Zealand, Denmark, on April 16, 2026Credit: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty -
Queen Margrethe publicly corrected Queen Mary for petting her dachshund Tilia during a concert celebrating her 86th birthday
The event marked Queen Mary’s first public appearance since the death of her father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson
Queen Mary wore a navy suit, balancing mourning her father with honoring Queen Margrethe’s milestone event
Queen Margrethe of Denmark corrected her daughter-in-law Queen Mary for petting her dog in an awkward exchange at their latest joint royal event.
On April 16, Queen Margrethe, Queen Mary, King Frederik and Margrethe's sister, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, appeared together at Fredensborg Castle for a small concert celebrating Queen Margrethe's 86th birthday.
As seen in a video shared by Hello! magazine, a candid moment unfolded when Queen Margrethe's dachshund Tilia ran up the castle staircase to join them.
Tilia ran to the former sovereign's feet and she gave the pup a pet. The dachshund then wandered over to Queen Mary, 54, who began to pet and scratch the dog — but was quickly corrected.
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Queen Margrethe, King Frederik, Tilia and Queen Mary attend the 86th Birthday celebrations of Queen Margrethe on April 16, 2026 in Fredensborg, Denmark.Credit: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty
"I don't think this is the right time for that," Queen Margrethe firmly said in Queen Mary's direction, according to a translation shared by the outlet.
Queen Mary instantly backed off and Tilia later followed the royal family back into the castle.
Queen Margrethe is Mary's mother-in-law through her marriage to King Frederik, 57, who became the monarch following his mother's shock abdication in January 2024. Though she no longer reigns day-to-day, the former monarch opted to keep her Queen title after stepping back from the throne and remains at the forefront of royal family events.
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Queen Anne-Marie, Queen Margrethe, King Frederik, Queen Mary and Tilia attend a concert by the Royal Life Guards Music Corps, on the occasion of Queen Margrethe's 86th birthday on April 16, 2026.Credit: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty
Queen Mary also has two dogs at home —border collies named Grace and Coco — and the gaffe happened during her first public appearance following the death of her father just a few days prior.
On April 12, the Danish Royal House announced that the Queen's father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, died at 84 in Australia.
The palace said that Donaldson's health had been "declining over the past few years" and that his daughter last visited him in late March, "where they shared precious time together."
A private memorial service is planned for a later date and Queen Mary dressed with intention when she stepped out to celebrate Queen Margrethe's birthday.
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The Queen of Denmark sported a navy blue blouse and suit, skipping the traditional black that's affiliated with mourning. Wearing the dark color could be interpreted as a gesture of respect towards her father's death while still commemorating Queen Margrethe's birthday.
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