King Frederik of Denmark enjoys a hunt in Jutland on one year anniversary of his ‘affair scandal’

King Frederik of Denmark enjoyed a hunt in Jutland today – as he marks the one year anniversary of affair rumours that threatened to derail his marriage. 

The monarch was seen smiling as he wore a Berghaus fleece to host a royal hunt at the Gludsted Plantation – while his wife Mary enjoys a trip to Australia without him. 

Frederik’s decision to go hunting in his wife’s absence was an interesting choice as he fuelled affair rumours in October last year when he was photographed with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova – who he apparently met on a hunting trip. 

The 56-year-old wore a collared shirt and jumper underneath a zip-up Deerhunter jacket. 

Casanova denied the claims and the Danish royal family never responded to comment.  

His wife Queen Mary meanwhile had locals doing a double take on Wednesday when she was spotted flaunting her athletic frame at Bronte Beach in Sydney – as the couple spend time apart. 

She wore casual athleisure wear as she enjoyed the breathtaking scenery with 13-year-old daughter Josephine.  

The mum-of-four appeared to be all smiles as she made the most of the seaside locale before embarking on the Bronte to Bondi walk, and taking in Sculptures by the Sea, Australia’s largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition.

The Tasmanian-born beauty, who was last in Australia for a personal visit in December, donned a long-sleeved black shirt and shorts for her outing.

At one point, she was spotted jogging through the sand with a friend as she pulled her brunette tresses back into a ponytail.

Hiding her face behind a pair of dark shades and a cap, Queen Mary pulled off her shirt to reveal a tank top underneath when it became too hot.

Queen Mary last visited Australia in December with her youngest children, twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, both 13, to spend Christmas with her family.

Mary’s marriage to King Frederik was plagued with rumours of marital struggles after he was pictured out in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova on October 25, 2023. 

During a ‘private visit’ to Madrid, the King, who was then the Crown Prince of Denmark, was seen strolling through the city with the TV personality.

On Wednesday, Mary had locals doing a double take on Wednesday when she was spotted flaunting her athletic frame at Bronte Beach in Sydney 

The 56-year-old monarch, who was then titled the Crown Prince of Denmark, was spotted strolling through the city with the glamorous TV personality (pictured), 47, on October 25, 2023

She wore casual athleisure wear as she enjoyed the breathtaking scenery with 13-year-old daughter Josephine 

The Tasmanian-born beauty, who was last in Australia for a personal visit in December, donned a long-sleeved black shirt and shorts for her outing 

While wife Mary was away on royal business in New York, the King attended a Pablo Picasso exhibit with Genoveva before sharing a private dinner at a traditional Flamenco restaurant until the early hours, as reported by a Spanish publication. 

After visiting the exhibition, Lecturas claimed both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately at around 7pm, and both re-emerged at around 9pm, two hours later, both having changed their clothes into evening wear.

In the photos, Genoveva had ditched her chic camel coat with a tie belt in favour of a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders.

Meanwhile Frederik appeared to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket. Again, they were reported to have emerged from the building separately, but got into the same white car.

The magazine claimed the pair watched a flamenco performance at a Spanish restaurant, El Corral de la Moreria, which finished at midnight.

Lecturas claimed the pair did not emerge from the restaurant until 1am, when they walked out onto the street and got in a car. 

In a ‘gesture of courtesy’, Lecturas reports Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion. 

The next day, the magazine claimed the Danish royal was taken to the airport via car where he flew home to Denmark.

After the photos emerged, those in the know claimed Genoveva and Frederik were good friends who ‘meet several times a year’.

After the Madrid scandal, Frederik and Mary, who have been married for 20 years, began to display what looked like frosty body language towards each other in public appearances (pictured in November 2023)

Divorcee Genoveva Casanova (pictured) – the former daughter-in-law of the billionaire Duchess of Alba – was pictured by a Spanish gossip magazine enjoying a night out with Frederik in Madrid in 2023 

‘They have a friendship. They know each other and have friends in common. They usually meet several times a year,’ Susanna Griso, who presents Spanish TV show Espejo Público, claimed.

Griso alleged Genoveva had become close to the royal after they met on a high end mountain hunting trip.

The presenter explained: ‘These are exclusive meetings, where you have to pay a lot of money to attend. All of the royals and children of the major families are there. The trips are organised mostly in Germany and Austria.’

On trips of this kind, usually in mountainous regions, guests pay thousands of Euros to be able to hunt European big game animals like red deer, Alpine Ibex, wild boar and mouflon wild sheep.

Following the publication of the photos, Genoveva, who is the former daughter-in-law of the billionaire Duchess of Alba, issued a furious denial that there was any romantic relationship between herself and the Danish royal.

A statement from the socialite said: ‘I categorically deny the statements that suggest a romantic relationship between Prince Frederik and me.’

She added: ‘Any statement of this type not only completely lacks the truth but also misrepresents the facts in a malicious manner.

‘This is already in the hands of my lawyers, who will take care of the pertinent steps to protect my right to honour, truth and privacy.’

After the Madrid scandal, Frederik and Mary, who have been married for 20 years, began to display what looked like frosty body language towards each other in public appearances.

But only months after the couple were thrust into the limelight following Frederik’s visit to Spain, they became the King and Queen of Denmark.

Queen Margarethe, 84, made the shock decision to abdicate the throne on New Year’s Eve in 2023, allowing her son and his wife Mary to succeed her.

Only months after the couple were thrust into the limelight following Frederik’s visit to Spain, they became the King and Queen of Denmark. Pictured, the royal couple at a state banquet in November 2023

Speculation soon began that the decision was made to keep Frederik’s wife of 19 years Princess Mary, who is extremely popular with the public, on side.

Indeed, royal commentators told MailOnline in January 2024 that Margrethe ‘deliberately’ dropped a ‘massive bombshell’ at the right time to secure the future of the Danish Royal Family, and its ‘greatest asset’, Mary.

British royal author Phil Dampier, also an expert on European monarchies, said: ‘I think Margrethe may have worried that their marriage was in trouble and therefore she had to act.

‘The Queen always thought Mary was a fantastic asset to the royal family and if she thought she might leave it would have been a disaster. She will now hope that Frederik and Mary patch up any differences and work together as the new King and Queen.’

But this week, experts have warned that the ‘affair’ rumours will likely haunt King Frederik and Queen Mary for the rest of their lives.

‘It was a huge case, and in principle it will never be forgotten either. It will lie lurking just below the surface for many years,’ communications expert Anna Thygesen told Danish tabloid B.T. ‘It doesn’t take much for it to flare up again.’