King Frederik and Queen Mary are all giggles as they move for the summer holidays

The Danish royals have taken up residence at Gråsten Palace

King Frederik and Queen Mary were given a warm welcome as they took up their summer residence at Gråsten Palace.

This year marks the Danish royal couple’s first time hosting at the royal residence, which is located in the Jutland region of southern Denmark.

The current palace dates back to the 18th century and it has been the summer residence of the Danish royal family since 1935 when it was given to then Crown Prince Frederik and his wife, Crown Princess Ingrid, who later became king and queen.

Frederik and Mary were in high spirits as they arrived at the town square in Gråsten, where they were received an official welcome from the mayor.

In a change from tradition, the couple walked the route to the palace instead of being driven, and at one point, the pair burst into laughter.

No one knows what prompted their giggles, but it was clear that Frederik and Mary were happy to be in Gråsten.

See all of the best photos from the welcome ceremony as they begin their summer break with their four children, Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 17, and 13-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

The king and queen were greeted by the mayor Erik Lauritzen as they arrived in Gråsten, with Mary receiving a colourful bouquet of flowers from a little girl.

The mayor and the king both gave speeches with Frederik recalling fond childhood memories from his summers in Gråsten. Paying tribute to his mother, Queen Margrethe, and his aunts, Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie, he said: “To see them become girls again when they are at Graasten Castle, it is a sign that this is a great place of peace, joy and summer and flowers, bees, animals and also people.”

Frederik and Mary appeared moved by the crowds who had gathered in the town to greet them. It comes just six months after Frederik’s accession to the throne following Queen Margrethe’s abdication.