King Frederik of Denmark arrives in Greenland for crucial charm-offensive tour amid Donald Trump takeover talks, but Queen Mary is mysteriously absent

King Frederik X has embarked on one of the most important tours of his reign, arriving in Greenland amid ongoing threats by Donald Trump that the island should become part of the United States.

The Danish monarch has travelled to the territory for the second time since ascending the throne, but the 56-year-old insists he’s “not on a mission”.

His wife, Queen Mary, has not joined her husband on the tour, which has been hit by delays and cancellations because of poor weather.

READ MORE: William and Kate celebrate wedding anniversary on rugged island

It is unclear why Queen Mary – who is hugely popular among the Danes – was not included in the official program, instead choosing to remain in Denmark.

She does have an engagement later today – at Frederiksborg Castle – and two others on Friday.

On Saturday, Queen Mary attended the funeral of Pope Francis without the King as he was in Japan on a post-accession visit.

King Frederik has travelled to Greenland with the territory’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who met the monarch at Amalienborg, in Copenhagen, on Monday.

They were due to arrive in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, on Monday evening, but severe weather forced them to delay their departure. The King and prime minister instead touched down on Tuesday morning local time (Wednesday in Australia).

Weather has caused further disruption to the official program, with a planned visit to Denmark’s Station Nord military base – and home to the Sirius dog sled patrol – on Wednesday now cancelled.

The King’s visit to Station Nord, the northern-most base in Greenland, was due to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Sirius Patrol.

King Frederik took part in a four-month expedition with the patrol in 2000, when he was Crown Prince.

READ MORE: Note appears to expose Meghan’s ‘major breach in royal agreement’

Thursday and Friday’s events have also been scrapped due to the weather conditions, forcing the closure of the airport.

The King’s visit is being seen as a major sign of unity between Denmark and Greenland, which has been part of the Danish realm since 1953. Prior to that it was a Danish colony.

Greenland is now a self-governing territory of Denmark and secured the right to claim independence through a vote in 2009.

Speaking to media upon his arrival, King Frederik insisted his visit did not have any political motivations.

The King – as head of state – does not hold formal political powers.

“I’m not on a mission,” King Frederik said.

“I’m travelling to Greenland, and I’m happy every time I come to Greenland, and I think I’ve had fantastic weather here in Nuuk.”

King Frederik is popular in Greenland and was welcomed with large crowds who turned out to see him.

He had coffee and cake with locals, known as kaffemik, and later went on a sailing tour of a fjord including lunch with the prime minister.

The Danish royal family traditionally makes yearly visits to the island.

In June and July last year, King Frederik and Queen Mary visited Greenland on board the royal yacht Dannebrog as part of their annual summer cruise. Their two youngest children, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, accompanied them.

King Frederik’s visit to Greenland is yet another show of solidarity following continued talk from the President Trump that the territory should be taken over by the US.

READ MORE: The untold story of Queen Mary’s most unusual royal tiara

In late March, US Vice-President JD Vance visited Greenland and said at a press conference: “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland”.

On January 1, King Frederik revealed a bold change to his coat of arms, which many royal watchers took as a defiant message to Trump, weeks before the inauguration.

The defining photos of the Danish royal family in 2025

Since Trump was re-elected, he has reaffirmed his plans to take control of Greenland, a proposal he initially made in his first term.

The King, who is constitutionally bound to stay out of politics, revealed his new coat of arms weeks after Trump said it was an “absolute necessity” to acquire Greenland.

In the updated coat of arms, the territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands were given prominence.

In his first New Year’s address since the change of throne, King Frederik sought to emphasise the continuity of Denmark and its overseas territories.

“We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark,” he said.

“From the Danish minority in South Schleswig – which is even situated outside the kingdom [in northern Germany] – and all the way to Greenland. We belong together.”

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.