By Editor,Sharon Hunt

Copyright dailymail

Mary of Denmark’s public image is synonymous with poise and sophistication.

But a recent caught-on-camera moment reminded royal fans that the Tasmanian-born Queen also has a wild side – one she unleashes only on select occasions.

Last week, Mary was among the high-profile guests at the ‘Out of Africa’-themed 50th birthday bash for her long-time friend Caroline Fleming.

The star-studded party took place on September 13 at Caroline’s home in affluent Hellerup, with the Danish socialite pulling out all the stops for her milestone celebration.

The safari-themed shindig was a lively affair, with guests wholeheartedly embracing the theme by donning all manner of animal print. Some even went all out with peacock feathers, cat ears and leopard-inspired makeup.

Seated at long tables beneath a huge panoramic tent erected in the garden of Caroline’s luxury villa, partygoers looked to enjoy a night of decadence and revelry.

The former Ladies of London star later shared a lengthy reflection on Instagram about her ‘big celebration’, posting a series of fun party snaps capturing the evening’s highlights.

The guest list was a veritable Who’s Who of Danish high society, studded with local celebrities, business identities, socialites – and one special royal guest.

Queen Mary had a preferential position at the event, seated directly across from the birthday girl.

But it seems she hadn’t planned on her attendance becoming public.

She did not announce she was going, nor was it mentioned in any palace itineraries. Instead, pictures taken by fellow guests and shared on social media inadvertently outed King Frederik’s wife among the party posse.

Mary was visible in the background of several posts from the night, including one shared by Danish business executive Christian Stadil.

When Danish publication BILLED-BLADET approached Caroline’s manager Elisa Lykke for confirmation about the Queen’s attendance, she declined to comment.

Instead, she offered the generic statement: ‘It was an excellent celebration and Caroline enjoyed everything about the magical evening.’

It also seemed that Mary was not joined at the party by her husband Frederik, who was reportedly on a private trip abroad that weekend.

The timing of the party is telling, coming almost two years since Frederik was photographed on a night out in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.

Those photos cast a shadow over their marriage just months before they ascended the throne in January 2024, succeeding Margrethe II. Now, it seems, Mary is enjoying her own quiet moment of freedom.

But that’s not the reason why Mary’s attendance at this particular private birthday event has caused a stir in Denmark.

Instead, it’s because previous reports suggested the Queen had been explicitly warned to steer clear of her celebrity pal.

The friendship between Caroline and then-Mary Donaldson dates back to the early 2000s, when the Aussie first visited Denmark soon after she began dating Frederik.

The pair struck up an instant bond, and in a sign of how close the friendship became, Mary was later named godmother to Caroline’s daughter, Josephine.

But Mary’s attendance at the 50th birthday party has surprised royal fans, given what has unfolded in more recent years.

In 2017, Daily Mail was among the outlets to report that Mary had been advised to ‘cut ties’ with Caroline.

The reason? Caroline’s ‘party lifestyle’ at the time was said to be a cause for concern.

Mary, who by then was Crown Princess, was reportedly told to be mindful of her future role as Queen, and reminded that certain associations could one day be seen as inappropriate for someone in her position.

A royal insider told Woman’s Day at the time that Mary had been advised to ‘move away’ from friends who perhaps don’t fit into the royal standard of behaviour any longer.

‘Because Mary will have such an important role as queen, she really has to choose her close friends carefully,’ a royal insider was quoted as saying at the time.

Born Baroness Caroline Elizabeth Ada Iuel-Brockdorff into one of Denmark’s oldest families, Caroline has been married to plastic surgeon Frederik Kølle since 2023.

Her former husband, and father of her two children, is Rory Fleming, the nephew of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

The content of Caroline’s Instagram account in the late 2010s was reportedly what set off alarm bells behind palace walls. At the time, her feed was awash with topless snaps, drink-fuelled party outings and lavish holidays.

Eight years on, a glance at the now 50-year-old’s social media page reveals a slightly more subdued vibe.

Nowadays, Caroline’s feed showcases yoga poses, family snaps, stylish home interiors and sophisticated outfit-of-the-day content. Nevertheless, her social media still projects the image of a luxurious life among Danish society’s elite.

So, could it be that Mary has been able to reconnect with her old pal now that she has a less controversial public image?

Or is it that Queen Mary has now reached a stage where she no longer feels the need to keep up appearances as she once did – particularly when it comes to her personal friendships and private time?

Is there room for her to enjoy a big night out at a dress-up party for a dear friend – despite being Queen?

As she grows increasingly confident and comfortable in her role, it seems the way forward is for Mary to do whatever she feels is right for her.