Danish royal couple begins summer tour in Odense

King Frederik X and Queen Mary arrived in Odense aboard the royal yacht Dannebrog on Monday, marking the start of their annual summer tour across Denmark.

Hundreds of spectators lined the harbor to welcome the couple, who last visited Odense together as crown prince and princess in 2004. The royal yacht docked at Tysklandskaj at 10:00 local time, where the pair were met with an official reception before proceeding with a day of engagements.

The schedule includes a carriage procession through the city, escorted by 45 horses from the Royal Guard’s mounted squadron, followed by visits to Odense City Hall, the Hans Christian Andersen Garden, and the composer Carl Nielsen’s museum. The tour will conclude with a reception aboard Dannebrog in the evening.

Among the crowd, local residents like Conny Frandsen, a retired municipal employee who once received a service medal from Queen Margrethe II, expressed enthusiasm for the new monarchs. “I want to be close to the new royal couple,” she told DR.

The four-day tour continues through June 4, with stops in other Danish cities.