03-06-2025
The tiny detail royal fans missed during King Frederik's 57th birthday - so can you spot it?
Danish royal tradition stipulates that a reigning monarch celebrates their birthday with a balcony appearance at Amalienborg Palace.
But there was one small detail about King Frederik X's balcony birthday celebration last week that many royal watchers missed – and it was a history defining moment.
For his 57th birthday, the King was joined by his wife Queen Mary, his mother and former monarch Queen Margrethe and three of his four children, Princess Isabelle and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.
The King's eldest son Crown Prince Christian missed out on this year's celebration because he's currently undertaking military training.
However, another surprise guest was more than happy to step in to Prince Christian's vacant spot on the balcony – one of Danish royal family 's pet dogs.
The adorable border collie appeared on the Amalienborg Palace balcony while the royal family were in the midst of waving and greeting crowds of well-wishers.
While it may seem like an innocuous royal family moment, the unplanned public appearance in fact made history.
The impromptu display was both comical and historical , marking the first time a royal dog - or any pet - has ever made a public appearance on the prestigious palace balcony.
The candid reactions and laughter from the six members of the royal family appeared to confirm that the dog's appearance was unplanned.
The excitable pooch appeared to enjoy the grandeur of the occasion, even at one point sticking his head out in between the balcony pillars.
When the dog first appeared, a surprised Princess Isabelle, 18, demurely leant over to pat the family pet.
After instructing the well trained border collie to sit, Prince Vincent, 14, also demonstrated one of the dog's other clever tricks, by getting him to shake hands.
The small but significant moment does contain one mystery with royal watchers unable to determine which of the family's dogs crashed the balcony appearance.
The Danish royal family currently own two Aussie border collies - a mother named Grace and her daughter named Coco.
Because the mother and daughter look so alike, royal pundits have trouble telling the dogs apart.
Even Queen Mary herself admitted in an Instagram post shared in August 2024 that it 'can be difficult for some to tell the difference' between their two dogs.
The Danish royal family's Instagram post of the King's birthday celebration included this behind the scenes snap of Princess Josephine patting the beloved family pet
It's not the only recent appearance by the royal family's border collies at a royal engagement.
Last month, King Frederik and Queen Mary brought Grace and Coco to the town of Fredensborg, where they greeted crowds ahead of the royal family's annual summer relocation to Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace.
On that occasion, Grace and Coco joined Mary and Frederik as they walked along the cobblestone streets to shake hands and greet well-wishers.
The obedient dogs walked freely without leashes and one even joined the royal couple on the podium during a formal an address to the crowd.
The Danish royal family have always had an affinity for dogs and were heartbroken when their previous border collie Ziggy died.
In 2017, the family announced the heartbreaking news via their official Instagram page as they bid farewell to the beautiful border bollie.
'The dog has been part of the family for 12 years and was a wedding gift to the royal couple,' the 2017 post read.
The 'faithful and loving dog' Ziggy sadly passed away following chronic renal failure and osteoarthritis.
Just three months later, the royal family opened their heart to adopt a new puppy.
A royal statement at the time revealed that their new dog Grace was 'related to the family's previous dog Ziggy'.
A few years later in 2021, Grace gave birth to her own litter of puppies, which included their second dog, Coco.
Over the years, Queen Mary has often shared her own personal pictures of all of the family's beloved dogs.
The border collies have even featured in several of the Queen's children's official royal birthday portraits.
The outdoorsy royal family are also frequently pictured being accompanied by their beloved dogs on walks and hikes.
In a post marking International Dog Day last year, Her Majesty shared that 'Grace and Coco have a very special meaning for our entire family'.
