Australian-born Princess Mary will be crowned Queen of Denmark this weekend alongside her husband, Prince Frederick.
Queen Margrethe has ruled as head of state for 52 years, but on January 14th she will officially relinquish her role and the throne will be passed to her son, the new King Frederick X.
This means Crown Princess Mary will assume the role of Queen of Denmark almost 20 years after her marriage to the Crown Prince. The two met in Sydney, Australia during the 2000 Olympics.
A popular member of the Danish royal family, the 51-year-old advertising executive turned crown princess is credited with helping modernize the Danish monarchy. She is known for her advocacy work combating bullying, domestic violence, social isolation, and promoting mental health and women’s rights.
The change of king comes after Queen Margrethe announced in her New Year’s speech that she would step down as Queen of Denmark due to a back injury. Her announcement came as a surprise to many, given that Margrethe had previously indicated she would hold the role for the rest of her life.
“After undergoing surgery, I naturally began to think about the future. Is it time to hand over responsibility to the next generation?” Margrethe said in a speech. “We decided now was the right time.”
“On January 14th, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”
How did an Australian woman become part of the Danish royal family?
Mary Donaldson, who was born in Hobart, Tasmania, was working as an advertising executive in Australia when she met Frederick during a night out with friends in Sydney. It was during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Mary says it was only after she met him that she learned that Frederick was the Crown Prince of Denmark.
It was love at first sight for Frederic, who told the Kristeligt Dagblad newspaper that when he met Mary, “not only was there an overflow of love, but it also felt like I had met my soulmate.”
After hitting it off, the two began a low-key long-distance relationship and officially married in Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004.
Mary quickly charmed her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, and reportedly also impressed the Danish people with her willingness to learn Danish.
Mary and Frederic are now parents to four children: Prince Christian (18), Princess Isabella (16), and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (13).
Succession of the Danish monarchy
The Danish Crown is inherited after the death of the monarch. This is a tradition in his monarchy since the 1600s. Until 1953, only the king’s male descendants could inherit the throne. However, this rule was changed by referendum in 1953, allowing female descendants to inherit, with priority given to male descendants.
Recent reforms have meant that the throne will be inherited by the sovereign’s eldest son, regardless of gender.
After her father’s death in 1972, Queen Margarethe ascended the throne, as traditionally succession takes place the moment the sovereign dies.
The Danish Palace released a statement explaining how the situation will change this weekend with the Queen’s abdication.
“This succession will take place for the first time during a meeting of the Council of State at the moment when the Queen signs the Proclamation of Abdication,” the statement said.
“Thus, Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince will arrive at Christiansborg Palace as Crown Prince and leave the Palace as King. Similarly, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess will arrive as Crown Princess and depart as Queen.”
“His Royal Highness Prince Christian will leave Christiansborg Palace as Crown Prince (heir to the throne). Upon succession, the new sovereign will be responsible for all the duties assigned to the head of state according to the constitution. become.”