Queen Mary couldn’t hide her pride in her elder daughter as Princess Isabella took centre stage as big birthday celebrations got under way.

Isabella, second in line to the Danish throne, turns 18 on April 21 2025 but as that’s part of the Easter holiday weekend, her family have begun celebrating early.

With ten days to go until she gets the key of the door, Isabella and her parents headed to Aarhus to start the party. And Queen Mary was beaming with pride as Isabella confidently led the celebrations.

At one point, the princess was presented with a pretty bouquet of spring flowers with Queen Mary looking on, overcome with happiness.

The birthday princess was also joined by her dad, King Frederik X, and her two younger siblings, twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, for a day of celebrations in Denmark’s second biggest city.

The focus was on the future as over 300 guests gathered in the Town Hall to celebrate the creative talents of the young people of the area. Dancing, singing and sustainable fashion were all part of the party and even the birthday cake was included as it was created by apprentice pastry chefs.

Princess Isabella also signed the guest book, marking this special royal visit to Aarhus, and gave a short speech in which she said ‘‘it makes me really happy to be celebrated in a city that has great importance to me and my family.”

Queen Mary looked impressed with that, too, although she also took a moment to sort out the hair of her 14 year old son, Vincent, who seemed far from happy at his mum’s intervention.

The birthday celebrations continue in Copenhagen on April 15 when Isabella and her family will attend a special gala evening at the Royal Danish Theatre. It’s not known whether this will be a first tiara appearance for the daughter of the King and Queen of Denmark but it’s guaranteed that, whatever the dress code, mum Mary will be beaming with pride again.