Princess Mary one step closer to being Queen

The Danish royal family has opened the door for Princess Mary to become monarch, giving the former Tasmanian an official training run for the job.

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Princess Mary of Denmark has been given the right to fill in for Queen Margrethe when she is abroad on engagements, or when the Queen is unavailable.

In a significant move, the Crown Princess, who was born in Tasmania, has been given the nod to back up the Danish Queen.

An official statement, released on Thursday morning (local time), confirms Mary will be given the right to act as regent.

Queen Margrethe signed a declaration to make it official, with a picture posted to the Danish royal’s Instagram page.

“As regent, The Crown Princess will, from now on, be able to attend to The Queen’s duties as head of state when The Queen is prevented from doing so, for example during a stay abroad,” the Danish Royal House said in a statement.

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary pictured in Copenhagen in April. Picture: Getty Images

Mary joins her husband Prince Frederik and her relatives Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte as official back ups.

“Today, The Queen’s duties can be handled by The Crown Prince as regent or by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte as regents,” the Danish Royal House added.

Crown Princess Mary, centre, and Princess Benedikte, left, arrive for the official opening of the Danish parliament at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on Tuesday. Picture: AP

Earlier this week,Mary joined other members of the royal family at the opening of parliament in Copenhagen.

Mary appeared alongside her husband Prince Frederik and his mother Queen Margrethe, 79, at Christiansborg Palace for the beginning of the Danish parliamentary year.

Fresh from a family holiday with her husband and their four children, Australian-born Mary proved her style prowess in a recycled dusty pink coat dress.

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Mary and Frederik, and their four children, pictured in Denmark in 2018. Picture: Getty Images

Mary and Frederik met during the Sydney 2000 Olympics when, famously, the Aussie was introduced to a man named “Fred” at Sydney’s Slip Inn bar.

They embarked on a long distance relationship between Australia and Denmark, ultimately going public with their relationship at a sailing event in Tasmania.

The couple, who have a shared love of sailing, on a yacht on Sydney Harbour in 2005. Picture: Supplied

After months of letters and long distance phone calls, Mary moved permanently to Denmark in 2001.

The couple were engaged in 2003 and married in 2004, after which, they spent their honeymoon in Africa.

They have four children, Christian, Isabella, and twins, Vincent and Josephine.

Mary laughs with her father-in-law Prince Henrik as Prince Frederik looks on during the couple’s wedding day in 2004. Picture: Getty Images

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