It has been widely and enthusiastically reported that Prince Frederick met then-Mary Donaldson in a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics. Mary is a city-based advertising executive and Frederick, the future King of Denmark, was there to support the Danish sailing team. Sparks flew, and after exchanging numbers (Frederick was reportedly saved as “Fred” on Mary’s phone), a long-distance relationship began. In 2003, Frederic proposed with an emerald-cut diamond whose design was said to reflect the Danish flag.
In 2004, Mary, a fluent Danish speaker, wore a classic ivory blend created by Danish designer Uffe Frank, first worn by Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, and then first worn by her daughter Crown Princess Ingrid. Millions of people watched her 2004 wedding, in which she flew down the aisle wearing a white veil. Denmark. Queen Mary is the first and only person to wear the historical veil who was not born into the family. Twenty years from now, their succession to the throne is expected to attract even more attention. Audiences from all over the world, from Copenhagen to Scotland to Australia, will sit out and watch during the ceremony. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff cites Mary’s “demonstrated humility, grace and kindness” as her superpowers. “I look forward to watching the next generation, and the Tasmanian-born queen, guide Denmark’s future.” Remarkably, Mary is the first Australian to sit on the throne.
Like Queen Margrethe, Crown Princess Mary is popular, with 85 percent of Danes supporting her in a poll last month. She is seen as a national asset, praised for taking the “business of being royalty” seriously, much like the Princess of Wales. “Kate is like Mary’s beautiful, elegant sister,” Karl Lagerfeld said ahead of Kate and William’s wedding in 2011. Her balance of “Scandinavian minimalism and Australian bohemian” in her Mary wardrobe choices has been noted and praised.
Now the stage was set for Mary, Queen of Scots. There’s no doubt that Duchess Kate will be watching to see how she steps up to the defining role of her life.