Loved in their adopted home of Denmark, princesses Mary and Marie are once again making their mark overseas. Hot on the heels of her Brazil trip, Mary left husband Crown Prince Frederik at home to travel to Russia, while her sister-in-law was visiting Cambodia without prince Joachim.
Both ladies balanced elegance with diplomatic dynamism as they went about the business of representing Denmark in their own unique way.
On Monday, Mary flew into Russia's cultural heart Saint Petersburg for a brief visit. There, the future queen officially opened an exhibition at the Hermitage Museum. Afterwards, she mingled with Danish companies and their Russian clients at a lavish gala held in the Grand Europa Hotel.
Meanwhile, ten thousand miles away, French-born Marie toured Cambodian soil in her role as patron of DanChurchAid. The charity was founded in the Eighties to help refugees from the civil war and support their battle against poverty, hunger and drought. Marie has been patron of the organisation since 2011 and travelled to Cambodia to visit their projects including a crisis centre for women and a refuge for homeless children.
DanChurchAid's Secretary General, Henrik Stubkjaer said: "I am pleased to accompany the Princess on this visit. "I know she is looking forward to visiting our projects. Her commitment to DanChurchAid is focused on helping those most needy in this world,"
