King Frederik spends weekend abroad without Queen Mary - details

King Frederik jetted off to Berleburg in Germany to visit family without Queen Mary this weekend.

The King's whereabouts were unknown whilst Mary stepped in as his Regent on Friday.

On Sunday, Frederik's location was confirmed after he was pictured in a German newspaper alongside his cousin Gustav Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, his wife Carina Axelsson, and their son, one-year-old Gustav Albrecht. The little boy's sister, Princess Mafalda, who was born a few months ago, did not appear in the image.

This was the first time Mary had to step in for her husband since assuming the title of queen at the beginning of the year. Regent is a role that requires a person to step in to govern the state when the monarch is unable to perform their duties.

In 2019, the Royal House announced that then-Crown Princess Mary had signed a declaration at a Council of State gathering, stating she would act "in conformity with the Constitution in the presence of The Queen, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince, and the government" should she be the most senior royal in the country at the time.

Mary's special role came just as her mother-in-law, Queen Margarethe, was discharged from hospital.

On Wednesday, Margarethe was admitted to Rigshospitalet for a neck injury and fractured hand following a fall.

The official communications for the Danish royal family explained in a statement: "On Wednesday evening, Queen Margarethe was admitted to hospital after a fall, which unfortunately resulted in an injury that concerned the vertebrae of the neck as well as a fracture in the left hand."

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"As a result of the fall, the left hand is now in a plaster cast, and The Queen will need to wear a stiff neck collar in the coming months," it continued.

"Queen Margarethe is in good spirits and is doing well under the circumstances, but will, however, be on sick leave for a longer period."