Just hours separate the image of Denmark’s Queen Mary wearing a diamond tiara and gala gown at the State Banquet in Riga Castle from the one now making headlines, the queen holding an assault rifle.
The Danish royal couple’s visit to Latvia is proving that contemporary monarchy is not just symbolic, it’s also a strategic instrument in times of uncertainty. And that sometimes, a single image can carry more weight than a thousand words when it comes to influence and diplomacy.
In a context marked by tension with Russia and the war in Ukraine, this visit takes on profound symbolic significance. The photo of Mary with the rifle is not just an anecdote, it is a visual declaration of support for regional defense and Baltic sovereignty.
King Frederik had already signaled this in his speech the night before, with a line that resonates: “Freedom cannot be taken for granted.” But now, with the image of the armed queen, that message is amplified and instantly viral.
The royal couple’s itinerary includes Latvia, the first of the three Baltic states they will visit, to strengthen and honor historical ties dating back to 1921. Denmark never recognized the Soviet annexation of these nations, and in August 1991, it was among the first countries to reestablish diplomatic relations after their independence.
The rifle scene took place during a visit to Ādaži Gymnasium, in central Latvia, along the Russian border. There, Mary took part in a symbolic demonstration alongside the Latvian armed forces, participating in a firearms training session that, according to Danish media, has been a standard requirement for all secondary school students in Latvia since last year.
Latvian outlet LSM reports that the program spans 112 hours, with monthly classes over two years, making Latvia one of Europe’s most integrated countries when it comes to national defense education, a tense reality the queen brought into sharp focus with a single, striking image.
The visit continued at Denmark’s Camp Valdemar, adjacent to the Ādaži Military Base, where the royals met with Danish soldiers deployed on NATO’s eastern flank.
Here, Frederik and Mary joined the troops for lunch. According to Danish media on-site, both royals chose lasagna, a meal later nicknamed by the soldiers as “the royal lasagna," even though they dined at separate tables.