She’s starred in gala portraits that might have come from a history book and glittered at a sparkling evening of culture put on just for her but perhaps the most realistic moment of Princess Isabella’s 18^th birthday celebrations was caught by one of the people who knows her best of all – her mum.

Queen Mary of Denmark took the photo used by Isabella to say thank you to the many who have helped mark her special day. And it shows her acting like every other 18 year old – reaching straight for her phone.

OK, she’s wearing an heirloom tiara that’s belonged to several queens and has on a stunning ballgown. But Isabella is doing what everyone else her age is doing and that is checking her phone.

The photo was shared by Denmark’s royals the day after Isabella turned 18. Her birthday, on June 21^st 2025, had seen the family release the first gala photos of the princess who is currently second in line to one of the oldest thrones in the world.

Those portraits showed her in a tiara for the first time. Her grandmother, Queen Margrethe, presented her with an historic jewel for her birthday. The turquoise and diamond tiara features precious stones fashioned into daisies and originally belonged to Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden who was Isabella’s great, great grandmother.

Since then it’s been worn by the birthday girl’s great grandmother, Queen Ingrid of Denmark, and her grandma, Queen Margrethe, as well as a string of princesses across a century. However, it now belongs to Isabella and she still had it on when her mum snapped the thank you photo.

It was shared with a message from Isabella who said ‘’thank you so much to everyone who helped me celebrate my 18^th birthday. It has been lovely that so many people took the time, thought and effort to make my day so special. It means a lot to me.’’

Birthday celebrations for Princess Isabella included a glitzy concert at the Danish Royal Theatre and a day of events in Aarhus which focused on young people in the arts. There was also a private party, of course, while the Danish royal family marked the moment with a special Instagram photo album of the princess through the years.

But the defining image came from Queen Mary – after all, mum always knows best.