Crown Princess Mary hosts annual Christmas event with Mary Foundation

Last week, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark hosted the annual Christmas reception for her namesake charity, The Mary Foundation (Mary Fonden in Danish) at Frederik VIII’s Palace, Amalienborg in Copenhagen.

Every year, the Mary Foundation gathers at the palace with those who have helped the organisation over the past year. This year, as is tradition, the guests enjoyed apple slices and drank gløgg, which is a festive wine beverage.

The Mary Foundation’s yearly Christmas reception takes place at Frederik VII’s Palace. Here she is pictured with Rasmus Kjeldahl. Photo: Steen Brogaard/MaryFonden

The Mary Foundation said they gather together to “say thank you for the year that has gone and to wish a happy Christmas for the many people who make up a large part of our working life.”

They also explained on their official website, “The Mary Foundation’s financial foundation has been largely facilitated by the Foundation’s co-founders and presiding partners, who were of course invited to this year’s Christmas party.”

The Crown Princess and CEO Helle Østergaard speak with among others the Chairman of the Carlsberg Foundation Flemming Besenbacher, who is on the Mary Foundation’s Bureau. Photo: Steen Brogaard/MaryFonden

The Mary Foundation has a strong connection with Greenland (as Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory) and extends their work to the North American island. As such, representatives from organisations from Greenland were invited to the yearly holiday function. On their collaboration, the Mary Foundation remarked, “Dialogue and close sparring with our Greenlandic partners are crucial for creating initiatives that Greenlanders can use.”

Those in attendance this year included Helle Østergaard, the Mary Foundation’s CEO; Rasmus Kjeldahl, Director of Children’s Terms (one of the three organisations in the Alliance Against Bullying); Flemming Besenbacher, Chairman of the Carlsberg Foundation; Linda Sommer and Kirsten Ørgaard from the Milk Bucket Center in Greenland and Department Chief Julie Priest Wilche.

Photo: Steen Brogaard/MaryFonden

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