Princess Mary and Prince Frederik blasted over deer hunt pictures
Princess Mary of Denmark and her husband Prince Frederik have been slammed by animal rights activists for their involvement in an annual hunting event that saw dozens of deer killed.
The Danish royal family celebrated the King’s Hunt at Gribskov forest on Wednesday and were then photographed outside the Fredensborg Palace standing before rows of deer carcasses.
Photos from the event show Princess Mary and Prince Frederik smiling and chatting with other people in the crowd in front of the slain deer. The prince could also be seen inspecting the slain ‘proceeds of the day’.
“This morning, the King’s Hunt was held in Gribskov, and this afternoon there was a game parade in front of Fredensborg Castle, where H.M. The Queen, the Crown Prince couple, and the participants of the hunt watched the proceeds of the day,” an Instagram post on the Danish royal family’s official account read.
The royal pair has been criticised for setting “poor” example to their four children – Prince Christian, 14, Princess Isabella, 12, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, eight – by participating in the hunting parties.
Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told Yahoo Lifestyle that the couple’s support for “violent blood sport” may encourage violent behaviour in their children.
“There is nothing noble about shooting defenseless animals for fun,” a PETA spokesperson said.
“Given the now well-established link between cruelty to animals in childhood and violent behaviour in adulthood, not only is it insensitive for Prince Frederik and Princess Mary to teach their children that killing animals is acceptable, it’s also a poor parenting decision.
“Few people today view hunting as anything other than a violent blood sport, a cheap thrill at taking a life and a display of wanton power over the powerless. It is surely the parents’ responsibility to help children grow into compassionate leaders for their country, with respect for all living beings.”
Throughout the years Princess Mary has also copped backlash over her frequent use of real fur, including seal fur traditionally used in Greenland.
“Times have changed, and unless Danes wish to be viewed as callous and out of touch, they should start creating new traditions that celebrate compassion and replace those tired, cruelly produced furs with new eco-friendly and humane fabrics,” PETA said.
See the images here (warning: graphic).