Crown Princess Mary and Princess Josephine watch 160 riders race in annual drag hunting event 

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was joined by her daughter Princess Josephine as they watched a horse race today, amid the ongoing family row over titles.

The Hubertus Hunt is an annual cross-country horse race held on the first Sunday of November in Deer Park in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen. 

Stylish Mary, 50, who has been a patron of the event since 2018, was dressed practically in a black wax jacket over a dark quilted coat, and brown tweed trousers.

She finished off the outfit with a blue felt fedora over her long locks which were smoothed into a down do.

Her make-up featured her trademark bold smokey eye, paired with a natural pink lip and dewy base. 

After the event, the royal hair awarded prizes. Here they are pictured posing with the winner of the pony race Caroline Oesterby Andersen (left) and horse Mitzi

The event (pictured) is on the first Sunday of November in Deer Park in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen, every year

Meanwhile, Josephine, 11, donned a quilted jacket and a pair of baggy blue jeans for the outing.

Last year, the whole Danish Crown Prince family, including Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, and their four children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine made an appearance at the event outing.

However, this year, as the only royal accompanying the Crown Princess, Josephine appeared animated as she watched the riders, and was snapped waving her arms from her vantage point on the balcony of the lodge.

Ahead of watching the race from the balcony, the pair were pictured waving at spectators as they rode past in a horse-drawn carriage.

Dating back to the 1900s, the event marks the end of the Danish hunting season, with 160 hunters on horseback riding over hedges and water features across the park, tackling a 13km route. It attracts some 40,000 spectators.

It was once a real hunt but now the traditional fox and stag have been replaced by a set course for the riders in red jackets and their horses – with two leading riders wearing a fox tail on their shoulders.

Ahead of the race, the royal pair rode in a traditional horse and carriage, wacb

Last year, the whole Danish Crown Prince family attended the Hubertus Hunt, this year saw just patron Princess Mary and Josephine make an appearance

Princess Mary became patron of the Hubertus Hunt’s event following the death of her father-in-law Prince Henrik in 2018.  

The royal was all smiles as she posed with Thomas Kledal and his horse Arizona, the winners of the big horses category in front of the Hermitage Castle.

She also took a snap with Caroline Oesterby Andersen and her horse Mitzi, who scooped top honours in the pony category.  

The Danish royal family have sparked controversy in the past over their traditional annual hunts.

In 2019, they were pictured in front of a lawn-full of slain deer on the eve of their annual hunt.

Practical: Mary wore a wax jacket over a dark quilted coat, and brown tweed trousers while Josephine donned a quilted jacket and a pair of baggy blue jeans for the outing

The 11-year-old appeared to be enjoying the spectacle, throwing up her arms and beaming as she watched

Prince Frederik of Denmark hosted the ‘King’s Hunt’, 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 Princess Mary, Queen Margrethe, and their guests, stood outside the Fredensborg Palace for a traditional hunting parade.  

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.

Some 160 riders take part in the annual event which is held on the first Sunday of November in Deer Park in Klampenborg

It was once a real hunt but now the traditional fox and stag have been replaced by a set course for the riders in red jackets and their horses

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.

Princess Mary will become Queen of Denmark when Frederik ascends to the throne, following the death or abdication of his mother.

Today’s outing follows a controversial few weeks for the family, after Queen Margrethe announced her decision to strip the children of Prince Joachim – her younger son and the brother-in-law of Princess Mary – of their princely titles. 

She announced that from January next year, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will lose the titles.

Queen Margrethe’s decision created a huge amount of conflict within the Danish family and resonated in the world press. 

Prince Joachim and his family deeply and publicly disagree with her decision to strip his children’s titles.   

The Queen initially explained that the decision had been taken for the grandchildren’s own sake.

Crown Princess Mary and Princess Josephine pose with the winner of the pony race, Caroline Oesterby Andersen (left) and her pony Mitzi

Crown Princess Mary poses with big horses winner, Thomas Kledal and his horse Arizona

But she later described in a press release that it was also about securing the future of the royal house.

She wrote: ‘Carrying a royal title entails a number of obligations and tasks, which in future will be the responsibility of fewer members of the royal family.’ 

However, she also stated that it had made a big impression on her that her family had become upset, but still stood by her decision. 

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, 54, recently spoke out publicly for the first time since the announcement was made.  

Frederik said it was ‘sad’ to see how affected his younger brother Joachim has been by the decision.  

The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim’s children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023

Queen Margrethe initially explained that the decision had been taken for her children’s own sake but later said that it was also about securing the future of the royal house

But he went on to back the Queen’s wishes, despite understanding his brother’s position. 

The Crown Prince explained to the publication that he is invested in the Danish monarchy remaining ‘lean over time,’ and so backed his mother’s decision.   

Frederik explained that she made the decision alone because it is what she wants. 

He said: ‘She thought now was the time to make a decision that I also support and see as the right thing to do.’   

The Crown Prince did reflect on the effect that this has had to his younger brother and insisted that they had been in contact, but insisted that this was family matter ad to be kept private.