Danish Royal Watchers: Queen Ingrid's birthday 96 years ago today

This day is the birthday of Frederik's grandmother Queen Ingrid. Ingrid was born in Stockholm, Princess of Sweden, on 28 March 1910. Princess Ingrid Victoria Sofia Louise Margareta married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on 24 May 1935, later King Frederik IX. Frederik IX died in 1972 when Queen Margrethe ascended to the throne. Queen Ingrid was the daughter of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, later King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973) and Crown Princess Margaretha (Margaret of Connaught 1882-1920). Ingrid was a great-grandaughter of Queen Victoria through her mother, who died when Ingrid was 10 years old. Like the current Queen Margrethe, Ingrid's mother was known as Daisy.

Queen Ingrid is said to have had a particular understanding of the current Crown Prince Frederik and his struggle to come to terms with his role in life. Frederik met Mary in September 2000 as we know, and he was in Australia visiting her (still in secret) when he was called back to Denmark when Queen Ingrid's health took a sharp decline in November 2000. And so it was that Ingrid and Mary were never to meet, although Margrethe, Benedikte and Anne-Marie are said to believe that their beloved mother would have been very pleased and happy with Frederik's choice. Crown Princess Mary now wears the Queen Desirée Diamond and Ruby Parure, which belonged to Queen Ingrid along with other jewels left directly to Frederik by his grandmother for his wife. Mary's wedding veil was the one worn by Ingrid for her marriage. It came to Ingrid from her mother and has been worn by all of Ingrid's daughters and various grandaughters.