Queen Mary of Denmark keeps things casual in sportswear to celebrate milestone anniversary for a treasured cause

Queen Mary of Denmark was in high spirits as she celebrated the 10th anniversary of her ‘Antibulli’ project

A lot has changed for Queen Mary of Denmark in the past ten years. The royal has seen her husband accede to the throne, her children grow up, and her own status on the global stage increase exponentially. But across the last decade, one thing has stayed the same for Queen Mary: her dedication to her anti-bullying campaign, which she founded as Crown Princess back in 2016.

So it is no wonder that the Queen was in high spirits to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ‘Antibulli with the Mary Foundation’ in Copenhagen on Thursday. Taking to the Østerbrohuset, she joined sports stars to champion the cause, which has been so close to her heart throughout her royal career. Dressed in an ‘Antibulli’ t-shirt, Queen Mary got stuck in with some sports, joining a crowd of high-spirited children waving Danish flags and practising a spot of handball.

The campaign has changed significantly over the years: originally launched to promote wellbeing through handball for children aged 6 to 12, the scheme has grown to encompass seven of Denmark’s most popular children’s sports, with options available for lessons in football, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, horse riding and badminton.

Queen Mary has become a passionate anti-bullying advocate, using her royal platform to promote education and reform. In 2023, she delivered a speech at the World Anti-Bullying Convention in North Carolina, calling upon researchers and practitioners to celebrate the ‘uniqueness of every individual’ and our collective ‘desire to belong’.

‘Regardless of who we are or where we find ourselves in the world, we all yearn for a sense of belonging. We crave deep connections with others, as this need is innate within all of us. We all need someone who values us and someone we can value in return,’ she told the Convention. ‘This is precisely why it is so heartbreaking for a child to experience bullying. When a child is bullied, they are stripped of that vital sense of belonging and connection.’

Mary has long been a passionate advocate for ending bullying, especially through the use of sport

Queen Mary went on to champion the work of Antibulli and the Mary Foundation more widely in providing a safe space for children. ‘Through research, we discovered that bullying also occurs in sports, leading many children to drop out of their sports clubs,’ she explained. ‘To address this issue, we developed Antibulli as a specific tool for coaches and volunteers. Initially launched for handball, the program has expanded to include football, swimming, horseback riding, and tennis.

‘By implementing these programs, we aim to create safe and inclusive environments for children in all aspects of their lives.

‘We are proud to have played a role in positive changes, but we recognise that the fight against bullying is an ongoing effort. As society evolves and new challenges arise, we must adapt and continue to address bullying in all its forms.’

Queen Mary has been getting back into the swing of royal duties this month, following a sailing season spent aboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. On 14 September, she joined King Frederik for the official disembarkation of the boat, with the royal couple welcomed back to Copenhagen with a ceremony led by Harbour master Christian Kopp.

Queen Mary has been getting back to royal duties after the official end of sailing season

The pair then welcomed the officers of the Royal Yacht to Frederik VIII’s Palace for the strygemiddag, or ‘striking the command’, where the command pennant is lowered from the Dannebrog to ceremonially mark the end of the season.

Queen Mary was the picture of elegance for the event, pairing her Harris Wharf London blazer with a cream twisted dress from Camilla and Marc. She completed the look with a St Barths tote bag from Naghedi, pink Jimmy Choo heels, and a beaded bracelet from Francesca, which was sold to raise money for ovarian cancer research and has been a staple of Queen Mary’s wardrobe since April. Rounding off the look, Mary pinned an anchor brooch to her lapel.

While a whole array of engagements and galas await the Danish royal, there is no doubt that she will hope to champion the anti-bullying cause for many more decades to come.