Royal dogs have been having quite a moment this year. Queen Camilla and King Charles both welcomed new puppies after The Queen's beloved Jack Russell terrier died, and last week, Prince William and Princess Kate's cocker spaniel, Orla, gave birth to four puppies. But on Monday, May 26, a European dog stepped into the spotlight when the Danish royal family celebrated King Frederik's birthday with a special balcony appearance.
Queen Mary and King Frederik—along with their twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 14, eldest daughter Princess Isabella, 18, and Frederik's mother, Queen Margrethe—appeared on the balcony of Frederik VIII's Palace to mark the occasion. Crown Prince Christian is currently undergoing military training and was unable to attend—but another family member happily filled in for the 19-year-old heir to the throne.
One of Mary and Frederik's lookalike border collies trotted out on the balcony, much to the delight of the royal family. Princess Isabella and Prince Vincent are both seen bending down to pet the dog in the sweet photos from the event, while in one shot, Vincent gets the pup to shake hands. This is the first time one of the royal dogs has ever made a balcony appearance.
While it's unclear which dog it was who joined them, the family owns two female border collies named Grace and Coco. The Danish royals welcomed Grace—who is related to their late dog, Ziggy—into their family in 2017, and she gave birth to two puppies in 2021.
Coco, meanwhile, is Grace's daughter, and Queen Mary noted that it was hard to tell them apart. After meeting Coco's father on a royal engagement last August, she wrote on Instagram, "Last week I met Coco's father Eagle during our visit to Assens. It was a lovely surprise and great to notice how much father and daughter resemble each other."
She added, "In the second picture, Grace is in the front and a curious Coco is seen behind. It can be difficult for some to tell the difference 🤔."
