Danish royal family stand before rows of slain deer

The Danish royal family have been pictured in front of a lawn-full of slain deer on the eve of their annual hunt. 

Prince Frederik of Denmark hosted the ‘King’s Hunt’ on Monday, leading an entourage of prominent guests and other members of the royal family through the Gludsted Plantation in central Jutland.

After the hunt, the prince, his wife Crown Princess Mary, Queen Margrethe, and their guests, stood outside the Fredensborg Palace for a traditional hunting parade. 

After the hunt, organised by Prince Frederik, the deer were laid out in the courtyard of the Fredensborg Palace on the island of Zealand

Prince Frederik can be seen stepping through rows of the shot animals during the festivities on Monday. Among his guests for the hunt was the new chairman of the Danish Left Party, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen

Mary, pictured right, is married to Prince Frederik, the first in line to the Danish throne. She will automatically become Queen when he succeeds his mother, Queen Margrethe (left)

Among the images from the event is the prince walking through rows of slaughtered deer and the Queen shaking hands with the huntsmen. 

According to a Danish law, the royal family are given the sole right to hunt in around one third of the country’s forests.  

During the ceremony, it is traditional for the yield from the hunt to be read aloud, followed by a toast to the hunters. 

Official royal hunts in the Danish state forests take place every year during the hunting season, which run from the start of October to mid January. 

During the event, vehicles and buildings are provided to the royal family to help towards the success of the hunt. Queen Margrethe (right), 80, can be seen during the parade on Monday

The royal family can be seen congratulating members of the hunting party during the festivities on Monday 

The King’s Hunt comes weeks after the Hubertus Hunt, held at the Hermitage Palace, north of Copenhagen.   

The Danish royals were there to greet tens of thousands of people who had turned out to watch the iconic 13 kilometre cross-country horse race which marks the end of the hunting season.

The couple have also attended the game parade with their twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, who were five at the time.

The decision to take their children to the hunt, which involve inspecting slain deer, was criticised at the time by animal rights activists.

Ashley Fruno, the associate director of campaigns from animal right’s group PETA Australia, previously said: ‘Given the now well-established link between cruelty to animals in childhood and violent behaviour in adulthood, not only is it insensitive for Prince Frederik and Princess Mary to teach their children that killing animals is acceptable, it’s also a poor parenting decision.

‘Few people today view hunting as anything other than a violent blood sport, a cheap thrill at taking a life and a display of wanton power over the powerless.

‘It is surely the parents’ responsibility to help children grow into compassionate leaders for their country, with respect for all living beings.’