‘Now I’m on my way. Had to leave two who were less satisfied as they weren’t going,’ Mary joked in the caption to the photograph, which showed her crouching on the floor, cuddling the family’s two Australian border collies, Grace and Coco. Grace was adopted in 2017 and is related to the family’s previous dog, Ziggy, while Coco is Grace’s daughter and was born in 2021. ‘I’m looking forward to experiencing the Royal Run in Korsør,’ the Queen added.
The photo appears to have been taken in Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace, the Danish royal family‘s second home located on the shore of Lake Esrum on the island of Zealand. The Palace is the family’s occasional residence, and often acts as the site of important state visits and events. Until her death in 2010, the late Queen Mother, Queen Ingrid, used Chancellery House – a smaller building that abuts the main Palace – as her private residence, after which time it became the summer home of King Frederik and Queen Mary, who live at Amalienborg Palace during the winter. The place holds some significance for the royal couple, who used Chancellery House as their primary home when they were first married in 2004, until renovations at Amalienborg were completed.
Much is known about the architecture of the building, which was built by J.C. Krieger in 1731 during the reign of Christian VI for the King’s ministers and government officials. It’s named Chancellery House, presumably because the Chancellery (the uppermost, central administrative and governing body in Denmark) stayed there when the King resided at Fredensborg Palace. The Régence style decoration is largely maintained, and the house boasts stucco ceilings panelled doors with decorative fittings in wrought iron and Chinoiserie canvas wallpaper.