On Saturday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attended the wedding of her chief of staff, Barbara Bertelsen, in Sønderho on Fanø Island. Bertelsen married her partner, Theis Bober, in a ceremony held at Sønderho Church. It was a special day surrounded by family and friends, with pictures showing the Prime Minister and her husband, Bo Tengberg, among the guests.

Sønderho holds a special place in Barbara Bertelsen’s heart. Although she grew up in Esbjerg, her family has deep roots on Fanø, where her mother still resides. The family also owns a summer house in the charming town, which Bertelsen has frequently visited and described as a place of significant importance for her well-being and mental comfort, referred to in Danish as “hygge,” a concept emphasizing coziness and contentment.

In a 2015 interview, Bertelsen described Fanø as the perfect locale for relaxation, calling it something truly magical that only the Wadden Sea can offer. This personal connection to the island made it a natural choice for her wedding venue.

The wedding marks a significant moment in Bertelsen’s life, which has also been characterized by public scrutiny and debate. In 2020, the public first became aware of her during a controversy surrounding a series of text messages related to the government’s decision to cull all mink in the country due to a COVID-19 outbreak. This incident garnered extensive media attention and led to a subsequent warning that was later retracted.

Barbara Bertelsen is the first female chief of staff in the Danish Prime Minister’s Office (Statsministeriet). She was appointed to this role after being recruited from the Ministry of Justice (Justitsministeriet), where she had also served as chief of staff. This wedding weekend reveals a more personal side to a prominent figure in Danish politics, showcasing a less public and more intimate moment in her life.