Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark are facing criticism over their recent summer tour, which some have labelled "hypocritical".
The royal couple, known for their commitment to environmental sustainability, have been accused of backtracking on their green promises.
At the heart of the controversy is the royal yacht Dannebrog, a 92-year-old vessel described by experts as "far from environmentally friendly".
The monarchs, aged 52 and 56 respectively, spent much of the summer cruising from port to port on the ship, visiting various countries.
King Frederik and Queen Mary
Reuters
A general view of the Royal Yacht Dannebrog
Reuters
The royal couple dubbed their journey "a summer to remember", thanking fans who lined the streets to greet them. However, royal house commentator Thomas Larsen told Danish tabloid BT's royal podcast that the extensive trip on the old boat contradicts their promise of a clean future.
"This can quickly become a boomerang [issue] that can hit them," Larsen warned about the regular ship jaunts.
Despite this, Larsen noted that most Danes currently don't seem bothered by the apparent hypocrisy.
"I think most people are happy and [are seen] standing and smiling when the ship enters the port," he said.
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Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary wave onboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog
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Larsen cautioned that public opinion could shift rapidly on this issue.
Following the tour, Queen Mary returned to her environmental focus with the palace sharing an image of the Queen at a meeting with the University of Copenhagen.
"Her Majesty the Queen today hosted a meeting with the Centre's Advisory Committee, which advises the Queen Mary's Centre on partnership and development opportunities," the palace stated.
The meeting centred on green solutions and initiatives to bring scientists and students out of academia to work closely with practitioners on the green transition.
Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary walk onboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog
Reuters
This engagement highlights the royal couple's public commitment to environmental causes, despite the criticism of their summer tour.
This is not the first time the Danish royals have faced environmental criticism. Last year, during their trip to New Zealand and Australia, they were lambasted for excessive use of private jets.
Critics pointed out the disconnect between their public stance on environmentalism and their travel choices.
More recently, the couple faced backlash after the city of Vejle organised a fireworks display as they sailed out of the harbour.
One online commenter questioned, "Don't they care about CO2?"