Queen Mary of Denmark’s brunette locks are always expertly styled for a royal outing, but on 21 February, she appeared in new photos that revealed that she has undergone a chop.
The wife of King Frederik welcomed Caroline, Oskar, and director Sofie Hugo from the Children’s Aid Day charity to Frederik VIII’s Palace to sell the first lottery tickets of the year to the Queen in conjunction with the Little Brother Lottery’s 100th anniversary.Â
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Mary (pictured in April 2025) used to wear her hair considerably longer
Every year, associations, clubs, and classes go door to door to sell raffle tickets and raise funds for Children’s Aid Day, which works to support vulnerable children and young people across Denmark.Â
© Corbis via Getty ImagesQueen Mary last wore her hair short in 2018, for example, at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit
Having rocked long locks that far surpassed her shoulders, Mary’s hair has been cut so it brushes her shoulders. Her ‘lob’ (long bob) haircut was styled in loose waves to show off the warm chestnut tones running throughout. Her hair hasn’t looked this short since 2018, when the royal rocked a similarly shorter do.
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Queen Mary’s new ‘lifted’ look
Melissa Timperley, a celebrity hairstylist with 15 years of experience, tells us of the royal’s transformed look: “Queen Mary’s new shorter hair really suits her because it brings a fresh softness to her features while still feeling elegant and youthful.Â
© Getty ImagesQueen Mary’s hair appears shorter than when she stepped out in January for the re-opening of The Theatre Museum at The Court Theatre
“The length sits beautifully around her face and jawline, giving her face a gentle lift and creating a more modern silhouette. Loose curls work particularly well for women over 50 because they add movement and lightness, which helps soften the overall look without appearing overly styled. This kind of texture is incredibly flattering, as it frames the face, enhances natural volume, and gives a youthful, effortless finish that still feels polished enough for royal engagements.”
Queen Mary’s shortest do
© UK Press via Getty ImagesQueen Mary rocked short hair to leave the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen with a newborn Princess Isabella
During Mary’s time as a working royal (she married King Frederik in 2004), she tended to wear her hair long and wavy. However, in 2007, she underwent a total overhaul as she chopped off her tresses to just below the ear and embraced a darker shade of brunette.
© Getty ImagesQueen Mary started to grow out her hair after having Princess Isabella
It was during her pregnancy with Princess Isabella that this change took place, and she only kept it for a short amount of time. By her attendance at the Summer Fair 2008 at the ExCel Centre in London, she had already started to grow out her hair, softening the choppy layers from the year before.
© Getty ImagesQueen Mary wore her brunette locks up to Queen Margrethe’s 70th birthday gala in 2010
She continued to grow out her pregnancy chop, and by April 2010, the Queen was able to twist her hair into a chic updo at the gala celebrating Queen Margrethe’s 70th birthday that saw royals from around Europe, including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, descend on Denmark for the occasion.