Queen Mary of Denmark watches Olympic Dressage Team Grand Prix Special (2024)

Queen Mary of Denmarklooked typically stylish today as she attended an Olympic event in Paris today.

The 52-year-old royal was snapped watching theDressage Team Grand Prix Special at the Chateau de Versailles.

She was accompanied by Princess Benedikte, 80, the aunt of Mary's husband King Frederik, and younger sister of Denmarks former monarch Queen Margrethe, 84, who abdicated earlier this year.

Mary,who was born in Australia, cut a stylish figure in a blazer in Denmark's national colour of deep red.

The stylish royal paired her blazer with a sunhat and sunglasses with dark blue frames, protecting herself from the sun's glare.

Her look was completed with several pieces of jewellery, including gold hoop earrings, and layered gold necklaces.

Meanwhile, Princess Benedikte sported a polo shirt in the same national shade, which she also paired with a straw sunhat.

Today's dressage event will decide the team medals, with some pundits predicting thatGermany and Denmark are likely to be the two countries battling it out for the gold.

Among the Danish dressage riders is Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, who qualified for her spot in today's event following Wednesday's Dressage Grand Prix, during which she rode her horse Freestyle.

That day, Queen Mary was snapped meeting the rider, with the women beaming for a photograph alongside Mary's friend Helle Trolle, a Danish textile designer.

Wednesday's event, which saw Cathrine and Freestyle top the list of competitors, was a qualifier for both the team and individual finals.

Speaking about the performance, the equestrian said: 'I'm very relieved and super proud.

'The performance from Freestyle today was wonderful.My plan today was to not push her to do something, but just see what she offered – and what she did today was just something she offered me.'

Freestyle was previously ridden by British rider Charlotte Dujardin, who was forced to withdraw from the Games following the release of a video which allegedly showed her whipping an unknown horse more than 24 times on the legs while at a UK training venue.

The footage, which was reportedly sent to theInternational Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) on July 22, resulting in three-time gold medalist Dujardin, 39, being suspended pending investigation.

On July 23, Dujardin confirmed that she was the individual shown in the footage, and that the conduct captured in the clip was inappropriate.

Aired byGood Morning Britain on July 24, the videoshows Dujardin walking alongside the horse, which was being ridden by a 19-year-old girl, as she struck its legs with a whip.

Dutch lawyer Stephan Wensing, a lawyer for the whistleblower who shared the video, told GMB that his client had sponsored a lesson for the teen on the horse.

He said: 'My client used to be a sponsor, and she was in the UK, and she sponsored a lesson for Charlotte to a student. It was a young girl of 19-years-old riding her horse, and she got a lesson from Charlotte Dujardin in the UK.

'Charlotte Dujardin was in the middle of the arena. She said to the student, 'your horse must lift up the legs more in the canter'.

'She took the long whip and she was beating the horse more than 24 times in one minute and really hard, really harsh, really tough.'

Mr Wensing claimed his client had seen the practice happen multiple times, saying: 'This is not just one incident. My client has visited Charlotte Dujardin's stable more times and she has seen it happen more times.'

The lawyer has previously compared the treatment to that of 'an elephant in a circus'. He said the incident took place in 2022 - but Dujardin said her 'error of judgement' happened four years ago.

She is understood to have struck the horse on the legs as she tried to teach the horse the 'piaffe' - the slow-motion trotting technique associated with dressage.

Those giving instructions on piaffe typically do so whilst tapping the horse very lightly - just enough to encourage the animal to raise their legs.

The alleged whistleblower had filmed the lesson but had been warned against making an official complaint due to Dujardin's previously sparkling reputation.

'In the video she takes the long whip and beats the horse more than 24 times; (this is) the biggest star in dressage,' Mr Wensing said the night before the footage aired on GMB.

'This is a black day for dressage as well as Charlotte Dujardin. But in their statement my client says that if dressage is to survive, they must stop doing this to horses.'

'It doesn't make any sense,' the lawyer added. 'It has no goal. It is unbelievable. At that time, my client was thinking this must be normal. She is an Olympic winner. Who am I to doubt?

'My client asked around and was warned against speaking out in the UK. But last year my client saw others suspended in the UK and elsewhere.'

Alice Plunkett, a former eventer and current presenter on ITV Racing, said Dujardin's career lay in 'tatters' with the release of the video footage.

'It's not a video that makes anyone feel comfortable. It is not appropriate and it is not something that I have ever seen in terms of the years that I have been working with horses,' she said.

'It's not standard practice. She knows that and I just don't understand how she got into that situation because she is somebody who has made her life from horses because she manages them in a way that they work for her.

'Valegro [Dujardin's horse] would not have performed in the way he did for her if he was treating her like that. In that video she is training someone else's horse. She has made the wrong decision in how to solve a problem. It is not acceptable.

'We are heading into the Olympics with an extraordinary team and we want to celebrate the professionalism that got them there. The FEI do not stand for training methods like this.

'If anyone trains horses like this they would be pulled by the FEI. You cannot get away with that in the modern age. She has not got away with it. You will not get away with it. It is categorically a horse sport, the horse is front and centre.

'She will be hung, drawn and quartered. This will be her defining legacy. Her professional career is in tatters.'

In a statement, Dujardin said: 'A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session.

'Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition – including the Paris Olympics – while this process takes place.

'What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.

'I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.

'I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.'

A statement released by the FEI said: 'The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440), effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.*

'This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.

'During this period of suspension, she is prohibited from participating in any activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any competition or event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation (NF).'

It continued: 'On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant.

'According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.

'Upon receiving the video, the FEI promptly initiated an investigation[...] Subsequently, Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.'

Meanwhile, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said: 'We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

'However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.

'Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility.

'Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.'

The investigation has put a halt on Dujardin's dreams to become the most decorated female Olympian in the UK, after currently tying with British cyclist Laura Kenny who also holds a total of six medals.

It does not mark the first timeDujardin has been eliminated from a major tournament.

In August 2019, she was disqualified from the European Championships after blood was found on her horse Freestyle.Under FEI rules horses must be free from blood over the entire body and mouth both during and after the event.

It comes as American dressage rider Cesar Parra is currently provisionally suspended by the FEI over horse welfare issues.