Aussie Mary’s crowning as Queen within realm of possibility in 2024
It’s been more than 20 years since Crown Princess Mary met her royal husband in a Sydney bar. See why experts think she could become the Queen of Denmark in 2024.
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It’s been more than two decades since Mary Donaldson met Prince Frederik in a bar in Sydney.
And next year her transition from real estate agent to royal could culminate with her being crowned Queen of Denmark.
Royal house expert and historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen said “a formal takeover” from Europe’s longest-serving head of state, Queen Margrethe II, to her son, Frederick, and Princess Mary was within the realm of possibility.
“It is no coincidence the couple has been more in the spotlight this year,” Mr Hovbakke Sørensen said.
“Queen Margrethe has instructed her grandson Prince Christian to be trained up to assume more public speaking engagements in case something should happen to his father.
“The Queen is guiding all three of them (Frederick, Mary and Christian) along the institutional route and preparing them for more responsibility, until such time for a formal takeover.”
Ancient Danish tradition dating back to 1523 dictates the reigning monarch cannot abdicate and must remain in office until he or she dies.
But Aunt Daisy, 83, as she is affectionately known in European royal circles, has been struggling with her health since undergoing extensive back surgery in February – and “preparing for her eventual departure”.
“Queen Margrethe is extremely popular in Denmark but she has been saying for some time this year ‘no one is immortal’ and, naturally, she has been preparing for her eventual departure,” Mr Hovbakke Sørensen said.
“If fate dictates that Crown Prince Frederik ascends the throne tomorrow, he is ready, he has said he is ‘comfortable’ with the position when it comes.”
Bristol University historian Aidan Dodson said despite the Danish royal tradition of not abdicating, any royal could at any given time.
“It is feasible Crown Prince Frederik and Mary can become King and Queen any moment because Queen Margrethe is 83 and becoming increasingly frail, and any monarch can hand over the baton when they want, despite the Danish tradition of not abdicating – they are not constrained by statute,” he said.
“It’s whether Crown Prince Frederik and Mary want this and they seem willing to step more into the spotlight. It feels increasingly imminent.
“Like in England, when the late Queen became increasingly frail and Charles, then the Prince of Wales, took on more responsibility, Crown Prince Frederik has been taking on more public engagements.”
Prince Frederik stepped up as acting regent while Queen Margrethe underwent surgery.
And in November, Prince Christian, 18, formally declared his allegiance to the Danish constitution: the first step towards his ascent to the throne.
His birthday – October 15 – will be observed as an official flag day for the country in the years ahead, meaning all state buildings and state ships in Denmark will fly the so-called Dannebrog.
Support for the monarchy in Denmark remains consistently high, with 81 per cent of citizens favouring sovereign reign.
When Queen Margrethe ascended in 1972, only 42 per cent of Danes voted for the royal family.
Asked in 2018 if they preferred a monarchy with a royal head of state or becoming a republic with a president, 76.7 per cent of Danes voted in favour of Queen Margrethe.
Yet her appeal took a hit in September 2022, when her push for a slimmed-down monarchy saw her youngest son Prince Joachim’s four children stripped of the prince and princess titles they had held since birth.
Queen Margrethe apologised but stressed it was her “duty and … wish as Queen to ensure that the monarchy continues to shape itself in keeping with the times”.
“When Crown Prince Frederik becomes King it will be good for Denmark, he has the same high level popularity as the Queen and his wife Mary is well loved and seen as never putting a foot wrong,” Mr Hovbakke Sørensen said.
Although this year, Princess Mary’s 19-year marriage came under the spotlight, after Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova was pictured with Prince Frederik.
The Danish royals have not commented on the image or the affair rumours. Ms Casanova has denied any suggestion of a relationship.
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