Crown Princess Mary’s sister, Jane Stephens, to attend proclamation
Crown Princess Mary will have some close family support when she ascends to Denmark’s throne, with the Tasmanian’s eldest sister, Jane Stephens, set to attend the proclamation.
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Crown Princess Mary’s eldest sister is preparing to fly in from Hobart to attend her historic proclamation in Copenhagen.
When Australian-born Mary is crowned HM Queen Mary beside her husband HM King Frederik, her eldest sibling, Jane Stephens, will be in the wings offering support.
The Danish royal house has confirmed that Princess Mary is “happy” to have a close relative at her side on Sunday for the historic ceremony.
Europe’s longest reigning Queen, Margrethe, will on Sunday sign official papers confirming her abdication after 52 years as the Danish monarch opening the door for her eldest son Frederik to ascend the throne and become HM King Frederik.
Jane Stephens, 58, is the eldest of Crown Princess Mary’s three siblings, who include Patricia Bailey, 55, and John Donaldson Jnr, 53.
The family have largely kept to themselves since Princess Mary became ensconced at Amalienborg Castle after marrying her prince in 2004.
The Crown Princess recently visited family in Hobart and was seen spending time with her mathematician father John Donaldson, 80.
She is said to be particularly close to her older sister who is godmother to her eldest son, HRH Prince Christian, and attended his 18th birthday last October with her husband, Craig Stephens.
Ms Stephens and Ms Bailey were both bridesmaids at their sister’s wedding in 2004, which was held at Denmark Cathedral.
It is not known whether her father and second wife, British crime novelist Susan Moody, nee Horwood, will attend the succession, which came after Queen Margrethe announced she would step down in her annual New Year’s Eve speech.
Princess Mary’s mother, Henrietta, who worked as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of The University of Tasmania, died in November 1997 after complications from heart surgery.
BRITISH ROYALS TO MISS CEREMONY
There has been scant information on the guest list for the cereomony but Buckingham Palace has confirmed King Charles III will not attend his distant cousin Queen Margrethe’s abdication.
Kensington Palace confirmed that Princess Catherine, Crown Princess Mary’s royal ally, and Prince William “are busy” and unable to attend.
Although a modest affair compared to pomp and ceremony that characterised King Charles’s coronation last May, the zero show from British royals to the Danish succession has “raised eyebrows.
“The Danish change of throne is a low key affair and it’s not unusual for British royals not to attend European coronations, but it’s raised eyebrows in Danish royal circles, that King Charles, who is the Danish Queen’s third cousin once removed, isn’t going,” said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
“Queen Margrethe and Queen Elizabeth were very close friends and the relationship between the two families continue to be close.
“Margrethe attended the Queen’s funeral with her son Crown Prince Frederik but couldn’t make the King’s coronation because she was suffering from a bad back but she sent her son and daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary.
“It doesn’t bode well that they won’t be attending the succession but then the Danes are much more down to earth when it comes to royal ceremonies.”
The British and Danish royals have maintained friendly and cordial relations. The late Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe were close and attended state visits and official events together.
Prince Philip was also a cousin of Queen Margrethe and attended a dinner party held in honour of her 60th birthday in 2000.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier said it was a “surprise” the British royal family was not sending a representative. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are also among the British royal absentees.
“The British royals don’t tend to go to royal Scandinavian events but if other European royals and dignitaries go it will not go unnoticed that the British are absent, it’ll raise eyebrows,” he said.
British royal expert and author Robert Jobson said: “It is understood no British royals are travelling because it is not a coronation, as such.”
The newly acceded royal couple will host “special guests” after they are crowned at Christiansborg Castle, an event that will include European dignitaries, the speaker of the Danish Parliament and Denmark’s Prime Minister.
Norwegian and Swedish royals have declined to comment on whether they will attend.
The Australian ambassador to Denmark, Kerin Ayyalaraju, has been invited but her “busy” schedule will not allow her to attend.
CHANGE OF THRONE MEETING
After the 2022 death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the 83-year-old Queen Margrethe became the world’s only Queen Regnant.
Despite being a much-admired figure on the global stage, much like her cousin Lilibet was, Amalienborg Castle insiders said it was health issues – and not her eldest son’s alleged affair with a Mexican socialite – that forced her to abdicate.
Genoveva Casanova, who has threatened legal action, has vehemently denied alleagations of a romantic relationship between herself and Crown Prince Frederik.
The Danes celebrate crownings frugally.
Fresh details released by the royal house about what happens on the day reveal that on Monday morning at 10am (8pm AEDT), the Danish Royal Family will participate in the parliament Folketing’s celebration of the change of throne meeting when the speaker and Prime Minister will deliver speeches and relay the new king’s first message to parliament.
Afterwards, the royal family will attend a reception in the Landstingsalen government room.
Originally published as Crown Princess Mary’s sister, Jane Stephens, to attend proclamation
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