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Denmark

Crown Princess Mary attends Christmas reception for Mary Foundation

On Thursday afternoon, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attended the annual Christmas reception for the Mary Foundation. It was held at Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg to “wish a Merry Christmas and to say thank you for the good cooperation in the past year,” according to the Mary Foundation.

Each year, the Mary Foundation and its collaborators get together to celebrate the holiday season before starting the next year’s tasks. Those in attendance with the Crown Princess included Mary Foundation’s Director Helle Østergaard; Director of Social Management in Copenhagen Municipality, Nina Eg; and Director of the Hempel Foundation, Anders Holm.

Photo: Steen Brogaard/Mary Foundation

Guests snacked on apple slices and drank gløgg, which is a festive wine beverage.

Her Royal Highness mingled with those in attendance alongside Helle Østergaard to express their gratitude for all they’ve done to help the organisation over the past year.

The Crown Princess and Helle Østergaard in conversation with Nina Eg, Director of Social Management in Copenhagen Municipality, Director of the Hempel Foundation, Anders Holm, as well as Chairman of the Board of Carlsberg Flemming Besenbacher. Photo: Steen Brogaard/Mary Foundation

This year the Mary Foundation celebrated its tenth anniversary with both Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik attending a reception event in September at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg. The foundation was established in 2007 by the Crown Princess. After her wedding to Crown Prince Frederick, the people of Denmark and Greenland raised and donated close to £123,000 (1.1 million Danish kroner) in celebration of the union as a national gift. This money was, in turn, used partially to create the Mary Foundation. It focuses on three specific areas: bullying and well-being, domestic violence and loneliness.

The Mary Foundation: “Nykredit is a partner in project Advice for Life, offering violence to women economic, legal and social counselling. Divisional Director Lone Risbjerg and Chief Client Manager Annemette Gottlieb also participated in this year’s reception.” Photo: Steen Brogaard/Mary Foundation

You can learn more about the Mary Foundation in our charity spotlight, here.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.