Princess Isabella of Denmark had her mother Crown Princess Mary by her side when she undertook her first official engagements on Saturday. The 43-year-old was every inch the proud parent supporting eight-year-old Isabella when she stepped out on the island of Samse to christen the Prinsesse Isabella Saelvig ferry.Dressed in jeans and a smart light blue blazer and wearing her long hair in a plait at the side of her head, Isabella showed maturity beyond her years during the special event.
© Photo: RexWhile tradition usually dictates that a sacrificial bottle of champagne is broken over the bow of the ship during a ceremonial launching, young Isabella more fittingly released a bottle of Samsoe Baer blackcurrant juice.Once the boat had been christened, Mary and Crown Prince Frederik's eldest daughter was given a box filled with mother of pearl jewellery to mark the significant moment.
© Photo: RexThe little girl excitedly opened the gifts and showed them to her smiling mum.Earlier in the day the mother-daughter duo has got stuck in to some strawberry picking on the Danish island.The pair were snapped enthusiastically foraging for the seasonal fruit, pausing every now and again to taste them.
© Photo: RexIt was an adventurous day for Mary and Isabella, who donned waterproof overalls to view fish and shrimps in the estuary and got up close and personal with some wildlife at a nature school.Unafraid, Isabella also bravely handled a falcon with the help of an expert falconer.The lengthy day of engagements was not complete without a royal walkabout and with Mary close behind, Isabella warmly greeted well wishers who had turned out to see her.
© Photo: RexThe young princess waved and shook hands with the flag-bearing supporters, accepting bunches of flowers and gifts.Isabella's first official engagements came just over a year after Sweden's Princess Estelle made her first official appearance.At the tender age of just two Estelle met royal fans at Linkoping Castle after seeing the Fairytale Path at Lake Takern.
© Photo: RexOther European princesses who have carried out formal appearances include Princess Ingrid of Norway and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium. By contrast, while she has taken part in numerous family photocalls over the years, 11-year-old Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands has yet to carry out her first official engagement.
