D-day for the Danish royals: Crisis awaits Mary and Frederik as his exiled brother Joachim plots his homecoming - and there's one outcome insiders fear the most: SHARON HUNT
King Frederik X and Queen Mary have been carefully crafting a polished and united image of the Danish monarchy in the first year and a half of their reign.
This façade has undoubtedly been easier to maintain with more than 6,500km separating them from the warring faction of their royal family.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
a day ago
- Times
Danish citizens to ‘own their own faces' to prevent deepfakes
Denmark plans to become the first country in the world to give its citizens copyright over their faces and voices in an effort to clamp down on 'deepfakes' — videos, audio clips and images that are digitally doctored to spread false information. In recent years the tools for making deepfakes, including artificial intelligence-assisted editing software, have become so sophisticated and ubiquitous that it takes not much more than a few clicks of a mouse to create them. They are already endemic in the political sphere and were deployed during recent election campaigns in Slovakia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Argentina. The former US president Joe Biden was subjected to an audio deepfake during the Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire last year. In November an MP from the German Social Democratic party was reprimanded for posting a deepfake video of Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader and future chancellor, saying that his party 'despised' the electorate. The Danish culture ministry said it would soon no longer be possible to distinguish between real and deepfake material. That in turn would undermine trust in authentic pictures and videos, it warned. 'Since images and videos swiftly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can establish fundamental doubts and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of genuine depictions of reality.' There is now broad cross-party support in Denmark's parliament for a reform to the copyright law that would make it illegal to share deepfakes. The bill includes a special protection for musicians and performing artists against digital imitations. 'We are now sending an unequivocal signal to all citizens that you have the right to your own body, your own voice and your own facial features,' said Jakob Engel-Schmidt, the culture minister. Lars Christian Lilleholt, the parliamentary leader of the Danish Liberal party, which is part of the ruling coalition, said AI tools had made it alarmingly easy to impersonate politicians and celebrities and to exploit their aura of credibility to propagate false claims. 'It is not just harmful to the individual who has their identity stolen,' he said. 'It is harmful to democracy as a whole when we cannot trust what we see.' The reform will include an exemption for parody and satire. This is a thorny area: several studies suggest a large proportion of political deepfakes are humorous or harmless rather than malicious. There are some experts who warn that concern about the phenomenon risks tipping over into a moral panic. In April last year Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Social Democratic prime minister, was targeted with an AI-generated deepfake that fell into this grey area. After her government announced that it was abolishing a Christian public holiday, the right-wing populist Danish People's Party released a video of a fake press conference where Frederiksen appeared to say she would scrap all the other religious holidays, including Easter and Christmas. The clip, which was presented as a dream sequence and clearly labelled as AI-manipulated content, prompted debate about the acceptable boundaries of the technology.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Prince Harry and Meghan at heart of King's funeral plans
There has been increasing talk of olive branches and reconciliation between the King and Prince Harry. Much of it has been conveyed, on the Duke of Sussex's side at least, through television interviews; his emotion, anger and frustration on full display. From Buckingham Palace, there has been little said on the record. Beyond the occasional frustrated shrug, royal aides have kept their counsel, determined not to fan the flames of this deeply personal rift in public. But behind the scenes, the King is very much hopeful that he will be reunited with Prince Harry and that he might still build a relationship with his two California-based grandchildren. Opportunities would seem to present themselves at the next iteration of the Duke's Invictus Games, due to take place in Birmingham in 2027, and the King's 80th birthday celebrations the following year. Given that set-piece royal events are planned years in advance, it is possible to cast the net further into the unknown. Indeed, The Telegraph can reveal that the King has factored not only the Duke but the Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three, into the heart of his funeral plans. Whenever the time comes, the monarch is adamant that his youngest son take his rightful place at the centre of his family, perhaps mindful of that final chance to create family harmony. There is no suggestion that the King's reign will not continue for many more years. Planning for such set-piece ceremonial events begins sometimes decades in advance, evolving over time through briefings with senior representatives from the Royal household, the police, the military and the Church. The Telegraph understands that the Sussexes remain enveloped in the King's funeral plans at the highest level, with the Duke expected to walk side by side with his brother, by then the King, at the forefront of the sombre processions through the streets of central London. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be invited to take part in the family vigil during the lying in state at Westminster Hall and play a prominent role alongside the most senior royals during the funeral service. Arrangements have also been made for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the King's youngest grandchildren, to attend the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, as well as the committal at St George's Chapel, Windsor, should they wish. Personal beliefs While the vast majority of the state funeral, codenamed as for all monarchs Operation London Bridge, will look and feel much like Elizabeth II's, the King has made some changes to the plans, which are reflective of his own personal beliefs. His lifelong dedication to the environment is expected to be recognised with the incorporation of sustainable elements wherever possible. Meanwhile, the period of royal mourning will be reduced, bringing it into line with the period of national mourning. This will begin on the King's death and last until the day of his funeral, 10 or 11 days later. When Elizabeth II died in September 2022, the period of royal mourning continued for a further week after the funeral. As always, detailed plans cover every eventuality in terms of the potential location of the King's death, with procedures in place to transport the monarch's coffin from each royal residence to Buckingham Palace. However, while the royal train was factored into plans for the late Queen's death in Scotland, that mode of transport is now thought to have been removed from any royal death plans. In the event, plans to use the train in 2022 were scrapped over fears for public safety and disruption, with the Queen's body instead flown to RAF Northolt in London, accompanied by the Princess Royal. Buckingham Palace aides insisted that the King's funeral plans had not been finalised and cautioned against speculation. The King, who is still undergoing weekly cancer treatment, maintains a full work schedule with planning underway for engagements and events well into the future. The inclusion of the Sussexes in the plans, however, will prove a talking point. Their involvement, not just throughout the public-facing ceremonial elements, but behind the scenes in briefings and rehearsals, will avoid further rupturing relations with the couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are thought to have returned home on the day after Elizabeth II's funeral feeling more ostracised than ever, their new status in the general hierarchy having been made abundantly clear. Barely on speaking terms with several of their closest relatives, the lack of communication between Buckingham Palace and their own office was blamed for various dramas, from a mistaken invitation to a state reception to confusion over military uniforms, not to mention differing versions of exactly when Prince Harry learnt of his grandmother's death. At the King's Coronation eight months later, the Duke cut a lonely, peripheral figure. He made a dash straight from Westminster Abbey to the airport, opting not to join the rest of his family for lunch at Buckingham Palace, and was not in any of the official portraits that captured the moment for the history books. The Duke was said to have been determined to make it back to the family home in Montecito in order to kiss his son, Prince Archie, goodnight on his fourth birthday. Bringing his family together By putting aside any differences and signing off plans that place the Sussexes at the heart of his funeral, the King will ensure that his final public act brings his family together. While the Duke has vowed never to bring his family back to the UK unless he can guarantee full police protection, they would automatically be enveloped into the official security operation for such a state occasion. Elizabeth II's death marked the first time in history that the grandchildren of a monarch had taken part in ceremonial events that followed. All eight, from Peter Phillips, the eldest at 44, to James, Viscount Severn, the youngest at 14, stood vigil around her coffin as she lay in state at Westminster Hall. At the King's request, Prince Harry wore military uniform for the first time since 2020. The cousins stood in silence with their heads bowed as members of the public continued to file past. The family vigil following the King's funeral is likely to look rather different, not least owing to the relatively young ages of his grandchildren. While Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, currently aged 11, 10 and seven, will almost certainly be involved in some of the most public-facing elements of the mourning period, they would be shielded from certain duties. Prince Louis, then four, did not join his elder siblings at Elizabeth II's funeral. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, while factored into current plans as the grandchildren of the monarch, may similarly be considered too young or simply not equipped to be thrust into the global spotlight in such circumstances. Similarly, younger members of the King's family such as Zara and Mike Tindall's children, Mia, 10, Lucas, six, and Lucas, three, Princess Beatrice's daughters, Sienna, three and Athena, six months, and stepson Wolfie, eight, and Princess Eugenie's sons, August, four, and Ernest, two, are likely to have been factored in but may not be involved. During planning for royal funerals, each member of the family is given a different, bridge-themed codename. As heir to the throne, the King's plans were codenamed Operation Menai Bridge, while his elder son's were Operation Clare Bridge. Prince William's plans are now codenamed Menai Bridge.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Denmark seeks to make it illegal to spread deepfake images, citing concern about misinformation
Denmark is taking steps toward enacting a ban on the use of 'deepfake' imagery online, saying such digital manipulations can stir doubts about reality and foster misinformation. The government said in a statement published Thursday that a 'broad cross section' of parties in parliament support greater protections against deepfakes and a planned bill is expected to make it illegal to share them or other digital imitations of personal characteristics. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was 'high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants.' Officials said the measures are believed to be among the most extensive steps yet taken by a government to combat misinformation through deepfakes, which refers to highly realistic but fabricated content created by artificial intelligence tools. Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Famous figures who have been depicted in deepfakes include Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Authorities in different countries have taken varying approaches to tackling deepfakes, but they've mostly focused on sexually explicit images. U.S. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in May that makes it illegal to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate images without a person's consent, including deepfakes. Last year, South Korea rolled out measures to curb deepfake porn, including harsher punishment and stepped up regulations for social media platforms. Supporters of the Danish idea say that as technology advances, it will soon be impossible for people online to distinguish between real and manipulated material. 'Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about — and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of — what are genuine depictions of reality,' an English translation of a ministry statement said. 'The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one's own body and voice.' The proposal would still allow for 'parodies and satire' — though the ministry didn't specify how that would be determined. It said that the rules would only apply in Denmark, and violators wouldn't be subject to fines or imprisonment — even if some 'compensation' could be warranted. The ministry said that a proposal will be made to amend Danish law on the issue this summer with an aim toward passage late this year or in early 2026. Any changes must abide by the country's international obligations and European Union law, it said.
