Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at the invitation of members of the Armed Forces and National Emergency Management Agency, as well as representatives of key state institutions and royal patrons, at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 4. Attended a New Year’s reception attended by many people. 2024. Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen via REUTERS/File photo
SYDNEY — Australian-born Mary Donaldson, who will become Queen of Denmark on Sunday when her husband, Crown Prince Frederick, ascends the throne, is recognized as one of the most sophisticated and well-dressed people in the world.
But the former marketing executive has made the long journey from her native Tasmania to Denmark’s royal palace, Amalienborg, where she once took an eight-week crash course in behavior and etiquette run by a former model. .
Donaldson, now Crown Princess Mary, met the prince in a Sydney pub during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
The following year, she attended a course run by Teresa Page, founder of Starmakers, a personal and professional development company in Sydney.
Participants in the course, for which Mr Donaldson paid AUD 1,200 (about 84,000 yen), will receive lessons on “building confidence, presence and charm” and “graceful posture”.
During her training, Page had no idea that Donaldson was dating the Crown Prince of Denmark.
“Mary didn’t mention it,” she said.
Ms. Donaldson later moved to Denmark, where the couple married in 2004. They have her four children.
On New Year’s Eve, Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe II, made a surprise announcement that she would abdicate on January 14th after 52 years on the throne.
“I’m so proud of Princess Mary,” Page said.
“It was her hard work and volunteering that got her there.”
The future queen was one of Star Maker’s brightest students, Page said.
“Mary was very enthusiastic, very eager for knowledge, very observant, very intelligent.
“She said things to me that showed she really understood what I was teaching and loved the personal growth aspect of being, having the knowledge to change yourself. I did.”
The Slip Inn, the pub where Frederick and Mary met, now flies the Danish flag and has a plaque commemorating their encounter in English and Danish.
Ashley Brown, a gardener who was passing by, said: “I think it would be amazing to meet Prince Charming in a pub.”
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($1 = 1.4934 Australian Dollar)