King Frederik and Queen Mary in picture perfect carriage ride as summer tour takes regal turn

The Danish royal summer tour has now taken King Frederik and Queen Mary to the north of the country with the couple sailing into Hanstholm Harbour in Thisted municipality under more sunny skies.

Stately entrance for Queen Mary

After a glorious day in Frederikshavn, which saw them stroll through the pretty old town in summer weather before kicking off their shoes and running barefoot in the sand and surf, the King and Queen of Denmark made a stately entrance into Hanstholm for the second day of their tour.

After a welcome ceremony at the dock, things got very regal as they took a carriage ride through the town of Hanstolm to the City Hall for an official welcome ceremony.

Hanstolm was a spectacular back drop to the start of the second day of their summer tour as it is located in an area of high cliffs with stunning views all around. It’s now one of Denmark’s largest fishing harbours.

The royals were told about the vital part that Hanstolm plays in the local economy . It’s the home of large scale industry, much of it linked to the fishing trade, and it’s also a ferry port with services to Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The town of Hanstolm has seen huge growth since the 1960s through the development of maritime trade.

A fresh focus on nature

King Frederik and Queen Mary then visited the Nature Village, a project in which the community is “transforming the area around Doverodde Købmandsgård into an activity-driven village with a focus on nature education, outdoor life and community,” according to the Danish Royal Court.

The environment and the latest ways of protecting and growing natural habitats has been a major focus of this royal tour – on the first day, Mary and Frederik visited the junior rangers in the municipality of Frederikshavn. They saw how the group, all aged between 11 and 13, are trained as mini nature guides and saw some of their work to preserve local ecosystems and help them thrive. They also went for a barefoot stroll in the sands at Råbjerg Mile.

The second day saw them chat to those involved in the Nature Village before stopping their busy day for a spot of lunch with their hosts.

King Frederik and Queen Mary then headed to Surf & Work in Vorupør, which is a community that houses self-employed people who believe in a balanced life.

Their last engagement of the day was a visit to the Landing Site in Vorupør, which is called ‘Cold Hawaii’ for its dedication to fishing and water sports and continuing the traditions of the land.

It’s famous throughout the country as boats use a traditional method of bringing their catch ashore – they just sail straight on to the land. There is no harbour or pier for them to moor. It’s one of the last active landing sites in Denmark, preserving a way of life that existed for centuries.

It’s now a major tourist attraction with visitors queuing up to buy fish straight from the boats as they come into the beach or wandering down to the sands in the early morning to see the fleets head out on the tide.

In the evening, King Frederik and Queen Mary hosted a reception aboard the Danneborg.