Crown Princess Mary to become queen of Denmark as monarch abdicates throne

The beloved princess met her prince in a pub in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics and will become queen more than two decades later.

Crown Princess Mary will become the first Australian to take the throne as queen after her mother-in-law revealed she would abdicate in a shock New Year’s Eve announcement.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark surprised the Danish population and the world when she revealed during her annual New Year’s Eve speech she would abdicate on January 14.

The 83-year-old queen ascended the throne in 1972.

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Picture: Franne Voigt /Instagram

Princess Mary (, third from the right) in her younger days when she was Prince Frederik’s girlfriend

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will become queen in 14 days. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik will succeed her as king of Denmark, and his Tasmanian-born wife Princess Mary will take her seat beside him on the throne and take the title of queen.

The pair married almost 20 years ago.

The move will make Princess Mary the first Australian-born queen in history, while Prince Frederik will become King Frederik X.

Denmark does not have a formal crowning ceremony, unlike British royal tradition, meaning 55-year-old Prince Frederik’s ascension will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on January 14.

Princess Mary and members of Denmark’s visiting delegation on a tour of Sydney’s CBD cycleways in 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Princess Mary, then known as Mary Donaldson, was 28 years old and working as an advertising execute when she first shook hands with the Danish prince in the packed Slip Inn pub in the CBD during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The future king of Denmark was 32 years old at the time and attended the Games to support his nation’s sailing team.

She had no idea the European tourist she was chatting to for hours was Denmark’s future king.

They dated long distance for a year, with Frederik secretly travelling to Australia before Princess Mary moved to Copenhagen to study the Danish language.

Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the pair’s relationship in early 2003, announcing their engagement later that year.

The couple married in May 2004 and gave birth to four children – Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, 18, Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe, 16, and 12-year-old twins Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander.

Princess Mary visits sustainable skyscraper Quay Quarter Tower, which was designed by the Danish architecture firm 3XN during her Sydney visit in April Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Since becoming a royal, Princess Mary has worked with various charities and is outspoken about helping migrants and combating bullying.

Mary has won over Denmark through her dedication to royal duty and becoming fluent in the language.

The news that Mary will become queen has dominated headlines in Denmark and is regarded as a popular decision.

Princess Mary often returns home to her family in Tasmania for the festive season and was spotted at Sydney airport on December 9 with Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

She also returned to Sydney in April for her first official tour of the country in more than a decade.

Mary Donaldson as a young girl.

At Taroona High School when she was in year 10.

The pair show their engagement ring to the media at Fredensborg Castle on October 8, 2003. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Her first order of business was hitting the 2km cycle route around the city’s iconic Hyde Park along with City of Sydney staff.

“It’s wonderful to be here,” she told a Sunrise reporter who caught her just before heading off.

She led a Danish delegation discussing Australia’s transition to renewable energy and made visits to Danish-linked construction and transport projects alongside the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy.