King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark earned close to $2 million by fulfilling their royal duties last year. This income, paid for by the state, mostly went towards covering housing and staff costs as well as supporting other dependent members of the Danish royal family. A portion of the funds was allotted as a grant for Mary, who was the Crown Princess at the time before Queen Margrethe II abdicated in January. This left the couple with over $400,000 for personal expenses like leisure travel and shopping.
Following Queen Margrethe’s abdication, which involved stripping her youngest son’s family of their royal titles, she received a significant sum of $8.4 million along with a private allowance of $5.7 million in 2023. Frederik and Mary are expected to earn even more this year, as they are also the owners of a luxury ski lodge in Switzerland which they list on AirBnB for up to $20,000 per week. The Danish royal family’s finance system is set to undergo changes by the government in order to have more transparency in how the funds are allocated.
Unlike the British royals, the Danish royal family does not need to pay taxes. Frederik and Mary took over the throne after Queen Margrethe’s abdication, which some believe was to make way for a younger ruler. Speculation about Frederik’s infidelity with socialite Genoveva Casanova were denied by him and there are discussions about whether the abdication was related to preserving his relationship with Mary. Frederik released a book shortly after taking over the throne in which he mentions how he and Mary managed to stay together despite rumors.
The financial arrangements and allowances for the Danish royal family will become more transparent moving forward, with the exact amount they receive from the royal household being disclosed to the public. This will also include a breakdown of how the funds are distributed. The couple’s private income is expected to increase with the ongoing changes in the financial system. The potential overhaul of the appanage system could bring about significant changes in how the Danish royal family’s finances are managed.
