Raised Danish flag 'reignites rumours of unhappy family life in the royal household': Protocol suggests King Frederik and Queen Mary's Easter break was not attended by the whole family and 'someone stayed away'

A raised royal flag over King Frederik and Queen Mary's mansion at Amalienborg has reignited rumours of an 'unhappy family life' or drama in the household, royal watchers claim.

The King and Queen of Denmark were supposed to be on a family holiday with their four children over the Easter break, but the flag suggests someone was left behind.

The royal flag only flies when the King, Queen or Crown Prince is at home - leading royal watchers to suspect the family holiday didn't go as planned.

Many assumed Prince Christian was left behind, perhaps by choice.

'All families experience that when the children reach a certain age, they don't always want to be with their parents,' a local wrote. 

'It was maybe an idea to read the rules that our King and Crown Prince are allowed to travel on the same plane they have never been allowed to because of safety,' said another.

Others joked the King simply went on a holiday without his wife.

These jokes refer to rumours he had an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova after the pair were photographed having a night out in Madrid on October.

'The King was probably a trip to Spain, his new favorite holiday destination,' laughed one man.

Another agreed and joked he would be found in Madrid before becoming very serious: 'Honesty creates trust whereas secrets creates gossip and distrust. What has been done can never be undone, no matter how persistent one tries and others try.' 

Others defended their King.

'You don't have to assume that the King was supposed to travel down there before the rest of the family "happy to come". Unless you know the King personally and he has told you, there is no need to spread bad rumors about him. This is true whether you like the man or not,' snarled one.

These speculations come after the palace confirmed the popular royal couple and their four children would be on holiday abroad and Queen Margrethe would be back in charge.

The palace is yet to comment on the flag.

Queen Margrethe's regent flag was also flying, making many speculate it was either Queen Mary or her son Prince Christian at home - as there would be no need for the regent to take charge if King Frederik was present.

Rumours of a fractured family life were put to bed once King Frederik and Queen Mary were handed the throne but had dominated the news cycle after the then Prince was spotted having a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in October.

Photos of the pair enjoying a late night out in Madrid enraged Mary's fans - many of whom claimed she 'deserved much more' from her Prince.

They also shattered the appearance of the couple's 'fairytale' romance which began in Sydney where the Australian-born queen met the then Prince at a bar.

The palace refused to comment while Genoveva herself rubbished the rumours - though royal watchers claim the now King and Queen have looked 'distant' since.

The family's Easter Holiday plans came as no surprise to fans.

King Frederik has often claimed taking holidays to be an important part of his job as a working royal.

He added that as King and Queen, he and Mary will be even busier than usual making regular breaks even more important.