Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary Visit Taj Mahal to Begin their Indian Tour

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark are currently taking an official visit to India starting February 26, 2023. 

The couple's Indian tour comes a year after the Crown Prince's mother, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Amalienborg Palace during Modi's Danish state visit.

Queen Margrethe II welcomes Prime Minister of India to Amalienborg Palace

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Indian Tour centers on their advocacy towards green business development, focusing on water and energy in India, which is one of the most populous nations in the world.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary pose at the Taj Mahal

To kickstart their official visit, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary posed before the Taj Mahal of India, one of the Wonders of the World, and one of India's cultural symbols.

The Crown Prince couple of Denmark visit Taj Mahal 

Queen Mary wears a silk maxi skirt during the Taj Mahal visit

The Taj Mahal of India, a symbol of love

Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra, is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks. It is often called the symbol of love.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum was commissioned by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned between 1628 to 1658) in 1632, to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died from a postpartum hemorrhage on June 17, 1631, while giving birth to their 14th child.

Taj Mahal of India

Taj Mahal, therefore, is seen as a symbol of undying love and marital devotion. It is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh.

It is considered the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is filled with dramatic patterns and designs, full of symbolism. The color combination of lush green scape reddish pathway and blue sky over it show the monument in ever-changing tints and moods. 

The Taj Mahal was constructed in 1632 and completed in 1648, with the mosque, the guest house, and the main gateway on the south, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were added subsequently and completed in 1653. 

Royals at the Taj Mahal of India

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary added to the statistics of royals who posed before the Taj Mahal. Apart from them, there were other royals in Europe who already posed at this world-famous landmark.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2016

Prince William and Catherine, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Prince William and Catherine, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited India in April 2016, and dropped by at Agra to pose at the Taj Mahal monument. 

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria visited Taj Mahal before her marriage

Other royals who posed at the famous monument were King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Paola of Belgium, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (while she was still single), Crown Prince Haakon, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

However, the most controversial royal couple who posed before the monument were Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales because they posed separately during their Indian Tour in February 1992.

Diana, the Princess of Wales in February 1992

According to reports the palace aides wanted the Prince and Princess of Wales to pose together at the Taj Mahal of India to avoid public speculation on the cracks of the royal marriage, however, their conflicting schedules during the tour prevented them to have a joint photo opportunity at Taj Mahal.

Diana, the Princess of Wales ended up visiting the Taj Mahal alone while Prince Charles reportedly had a meeting with businessmen in Bangalore. 

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales posed at Taj Mahal in December 1980

Diana's solo photo before the monument created headlines in the United Kingdom, with some royal analysts saying the image was a symbol of Diana's lonely and loveless marriage. Within 10 months after their Indian Tour, their legal separation was announced.

The Prince of Wales visited Taj Mahal (and even posing in front of the monument) in December 1980 while still dating Lady Diana Spencer, and was quoted saying during the visit that he wanted to bring his future wife to Taj Mahal someday, a promise that was not fulfilled.