On the balcony of Amalienborg Palace on May 26, the Danish royal family greeted a massive crowd celebrating King Frederik X’s 57th birthday. At his side were Queen Mary, Princesses Josephine and Isabelle, Prince Vincent, and Queen Margrethe, who abdicated on January 14, 2024. Only Crown Prince Christian, currently in military training, was missing. But the vacant seat didn’t stay vacant for long.
An adorable fur ball stole the show: one of the family’s border collies spontaneously invited itself onto the balcony, immortalized by the photographers on hand. The moment was both comical and historic, as it was the very first time a royal dog had made a public appearance on a balcony.
Le border collie de la famille royale danoise s’invite au balcon du Palais.Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images
The only unsolved mystery: was it Coco or Grace? The Danes welcomed Grace, a relative of the late Ziggy, in 2017. She then gave birth to Coco in 2021. But the two dogs look so much alike that no one can tell them apart. In the end, it doesn’t matter, because the one who slipped into the photo won the hearts of the Danes, adding a touch of tenderness and spontaneity to this historic image. In her own way, she joins the exclusive circle of European royal dogs.
Dogs of the European court
After the death of Beth, the Queen’s beloved jack russell terrier, Queen Camilla and King Charles III welcomed a new puppy, Moley, adopted from the Battersea Dogs and Cat Homes shelter. A touching snapshot of the queen carrying the little dog in her arms was published on May 18, delighting fans of the monarchy.
For their part, Kate Middleton and Prince William recently saw their cocker spaniel Orla give birth to four puppies, promising happy stirrings in Kensington Gardens and, who knows, perhaps future surprise appearances on special occasions.
Originally published in Vanity Fair France
