A history of collaboration & mutual respect

It is an honour and a privilege to extend my felicitations to Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark on the ascension of His Majesty King Frederick X to the throne.

I have long admired and respected Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark’s dedication to her duties on behalf of the Danish monarchy, and her compassionate and impactful advocacy and actions. As Patron of the United Nations Population Fund since 2019, HM Queen Mary assiduously and steadily supports the agency’s work to promote maternal health and safer motherhood in more than 150 developing nations.

A member of the International Committee of Women Leaders for Mental Health, and as a patron supporting over 30 charitable organisations including the European Regional Office of the World Health Organisation WHO-EMRO, the Danish Refugee Council and Julemærkefonden, she also founded her award-winning social organisation, the Mary Foundation, in 2007.

Becoming Her Royal Highness Crown Princess upon her 2004 marriage to then Crown Prince Frederik, Mary was made a Rigsforstander in 2019, which allows her to act as regent when the monarch is abroad. She became the first Australian-born queen consort upon the abdication of her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe II, on 14 January 2024.

HM Queen Mary’s unwavering support for maternal health aligns seamlessly with The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s mission to enhance the health and wellbeing of women and children across Nigeria. As champions of impactful and sustainable development, we share the values of compassionate leadership in fostering positive change on a local and global scale, to promote a brighter, healthier, future for all.

As I felicitate with the Kingdom of Denmark and my Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Partners, UNFPA, and Maternity Foundation Denmark, I take this opportunity to recognise Denmark’s commendable historical standing as the first nation to recognise, regulate and therefore respect and elevate the midwifery profession, and the nation’s continued unflinching support for the ICPD25 efforts globally.