The easy-to-miss practical detail in Queen Mary’s cosy outfit that’s set to spark a global winter trend

Queen Mary of Denmark was spotted sporting an unusual winter accessory when she rugged up for a visit to a deer park in Copenhagen. 

The 52-year-old was well-prepared for the chilly Danish weather in a cosy cable knit jumper, army green quilt waistcoat and a floppy hat.

For extra warmth and a chic twist, she added a pair of woollen wrist warmers over the end of her jumper sleeves. 

Mary joined Denmark’s Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke to open a deer park in Dyrehaven, just north of Copenhagen on Sunday, April 7. 

The mum-of-four showcased her classic fashionable-meets-practical style with temperatures just north of Copenhagen sitting in the low teens as it comes into Spring. 

She layered a Seeland Cottage quilt waistcoat over a neutral Polo Ralph Lauren roll-neck jumper with brown wrist warmers to keep her hands and arms warm. 

Wrist warmers are typically worn covering the palm with a hole for the thumb but Mary opted to keep hers below her hand. 

Opting for a glamorous make-up look, the mum-of-four wore thick eyeliner and mascara atop a layer of golden foundation. 

The Aussie-born monarch helped release two deer into the forest and stopped to chat with fans at the event marking the expansion of the Jægersborg Hegn nature reserve. 

She also made a speech at the event saying she was wowed by the beauty of the forest which was different from what she grew up with in Hobart, Tasmania.

‘From my first encounter with the Danish forest, I have been very impressed by it,’ Mary said.

‘Especially the change to spring, when the trees spring out and create a light green colour in the forest, which I have not experienced where I come from.’

The outing comes amid speculation that Mary may have spent the Easter break away from Prince Frederik as their flag remained raised over their mansion in Amalienborg Castle – meaning at least Frederik, Mary or their son Crown Prince Christian was in attendance.

The King and Queen of Denmark were supposed to be on a family holiday with their four children over the Easter break, but the flag suggests someone was left behind.

The royal flag only flies when the King, Queen or Crown Prince is at home – leading royal watchers to suspect the family holiday didn’t go as planned.

Danish people slammed the royal house for going ‘back in time’ by using the flag system to hint as to who is home rather than using an official calendar.

The flag method goes against the King’s promise to bring the monarchy into the future and, as his people have complained, actually drags it backward.

To make matters worse for the crown, the Palace had put out an official statement claiming the entire family was abroad for the weekend and the country would be back under Queen Margrethe’s rule as regent.

This was directly contradicted by the flying flag over their home at Amalienborg over the weekend which pointed to King Frederik, Queen Mary or Prince Christian being home.

When Daily Mail Australia asked the palace who was home they simply repeated the statement that the family was on holiday and the regent was in charge.

Danish tabloid B.T claim it was Mary who failed to jet off with the rest of the family on time, spending much of Easter alone.

Communications advisor Anne Thygesen told the tabloid the game of flags did not look good for the palace.

‘It shouldn’t be a guesswork, a puzzle or a detective work to find out who is the country’s head of state. It sounds like it was almost the step before Morse code, runes and carrier pigeons – so very, very old-fashioned,’ she said.

The press, and Danish citizens shouldn’t have to go to the palace to see which flags are up to know who is in charge, she explained, which is what has been happening.

She said relying on flags makes it easier for rumours to start.

‘I don’t really think that they had a bad intention, but it just seems unprofessional, because maybe you didn’t want to tell them that Mary didn’t come along for the first few days when she had to fix something at home,’ she said.