Queen Mary of Denmark has revealed she may switch her AFL allegiance from Carlton to the incoming Tasmanian team, prompting an angry response from Australian comedian Dave Hughes. The Tasmanian-born royal made the comment during a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, where she kicked a goal alongside her husband King Frederik and Hawthorn players.
Asked if she had an AFL team, the long-time Carlton supporter hinted at a potential change. 'I do have, but maybe it will change in a few years,' she said, alluding to the Tasmanian Devils' entry to the AFL in 2028. The admission has been labelled 'treachery' by Hughes, a devoted Carlton fan, who posted a video on Facebook expressing his outrage.
'What the f**k? Queen Mary's a Carlton supporter ... you can't go to Hawthorn, Queen Mary,' Hughes said in the video, mistakenly naming Hawthorn as the club she might switch to. He captioned the post: 'I just found out Queen Mary supports Carlton FC then I just found out she is thinking of swapping to f**ken Hawthorn. Treachery is not taken kindly around these parts.'
Changing AFL allegiances is considered a cardinal sin in Australian football culture, where fans are expected to 'pick and stick' with their club. The Danish royals are in Australia for a six-day visit, their first since Frederik became king in 2024. Their tour of Victoria included an official reception and visits to sustainable energy projects.
Royal enthusiasts gathered to catch a glimpse of the couple, including host mother Cris and her Danish exchange student Ulrich. 'Catch a glimpse, perhaps a wave. Tick and tick,' Cris told AAP. Ulrich, who had seen the royals before in Denmark, said the encounter felt more personal.
