Queen Mary of Denmark takes part in new documentary film about Countess Danner

Queen Mary has taken part in a new documentary about one of Denmark’s most intriguing, and often misunderstood, figures.

The Tasmanian-born royal shares some similarities with Countess Danner, who started life as a commoner and later married the King of Denmark.

In the months since becoming Queen, Mary has paid tribute to Danner – who was born more than 200 years ago – on several occasions.

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Now, the 53-year-old has been photographed visiting Denmark’s National Museum – also known as Frederiksborg Castle – north of Copenhagen, ahead of a new exhibition on the countess, which opens this week.

In the series of photos, Queen Mary can be seen looking at a number of historical artefacts connected with the countess that are on display at the castle, which was built by King Christian IV in the early 17th century and remains the largest Renaissance complex in the Nordic region.

In 2022, the castle hosted a special exhibition celebrating then-Crown Princess Mary’s 50th birthday. The rare show included Mary’s wedding gown alongside some of the Danish royal’s other iconic outfits worn throughout her life.

Queen Mary appears in a film that will tell Countess Danner’s story as visitors view the exhibition.

“The film tells the story of one of history’s most significant female figures, and the objects help to illustrate how Countess Danner’s history as a role model and norm breaker is closely intertwined with Denmark’s history,” the Danish royal household said in a statement.

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“The Countess was born into the lowest strata of society in 1815 and ended up marrying Frederik VII.

“In the film, the Queen tells, among other things, about Countess Danner’s birth certificate, which is the first tangible sign of the Countess’ poor origins – and about how the Countess, at the end of her life, gives her fortune back to the common people she herself had come from.

“The Queen also talks about the Countess’s religious beliefs and about the defamatory writings that document Countess Danner’s role as a complex historical figure who divided the waters in her time, and whose legacy is still up for debate to this day.”

Born Louise Christine Rasmussen, she had found fame as a ballet dancer but was from the lower rungs of society due to her illegitimate birth. She later had a child out of wedlock and during her career at the Royal Danish Theatre, she met the Danish Crown Prince.

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When he became King Frederik VII of Denmark in 1848, they attempted to marry but the union was blocked by the government due to Rasmussen’s background and child.

Two years later they married anyway and she was given the title Countess Danner.

But it was a morganatic marriage, meaning Danner was never given the title of Queen of Denmark due to her status as a commoner.

When the King died, Countess Danner used her position and newfound fortune to help vulnerable women and children.

There is now an organisation – Danner – which helps modern-day women and children exposed to violence, an issue that Queen Mary has focused on for most of her royal career through the Mary Foundation.

In November last year, Queen Mary attended the unveiling of a four-metre high bronze sculpture of Countess Danner, created by artist Kirsten Justesen, in Copenhagen.

Queen Mary gave a speech and said: “the story of Countess Danner is also the history of Denmark. A monument is a memorial, and in Countess Danner’s case it will stand as a symbol of her importance for women’s liberation, social awareness and social mobility”.

For the unveiling, Queen Mary wore a brooch with citrine, amethysts, pearls and diamonds which is part of a parure (or ‘set’) previously owned by the countess. It is now on permanent display at Rosenborg Castle, along with the rest of the Crown Jewels.

The jewels had not been worn by anyone apart from Countess Danner until Queen Mary brought them out of the vault.

In March, Queen Mary once again wore the brooch and the matching earrings from the set to a state banquet during her and King Frederik’s official visit to Finland. Queen Mary paired the jewels with another historic Danish jewel: Queen Caroline Amalie’s gold tiara with antique gems that had not been worn in public in 140 years.

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