Australian expats celebrate Denmark’s new Queen Mary and King Frederik

Australians in Denmark raised their champagne glasses to toast the reign of King Frederik X and his Tasmanian-born Queen Mary.

Australians in Denmark raised their champagne glasses to toast the reign of King Frederik X and his Tasmanian-born Queen Mary.

Expats converged on Copenhagen’s Admiral Hotel to celebrate the former Mary Donaldson’s “inspirational” transformation from advertising executive to Queen, and their shared journey from Australia to Europe.

King Frederik X with Queen Mary enters the balcony on Amalienborg Castle after his proclamation. Picture: Getty Images

“I came to Denmark the same time Mary arrived and, like her, I married a Dane and stayed,” Sydney-born Maria Ieroianni said.

“Denmark is not an easy place to re-establish yourself, but Mary has done it brilliantly, she learned the language in nine months and raised a family, and our lives to a degree mirror each other’s.

“She’s an inspiration to all of us Australians here,” she said.

Sydney-born Maria Ieroianni was among Australians across Denmark toasting the new reign of King Frederik X and Queen Mary with expensive champagne and nibbles at a Copenhagen hotel.

Well-wishers wearing crowns hold a sign reading 'We love Mary. Probably the best Australian export ever!' outside Christiansborg Palace. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane-born Lisa Godbold, proudly parading a hat adorned with cockatoos, budgies and kookaburras, has been living in Copenhagen for 11 years.

“For us Australians, we feel she understands us and we get her,” Ms Godbold said. “Australia has never had a Royal before, she will always be in the hearts of Australians.”

Jodie Littlewood, originally from Melbourne, added Queen Mary had followed in the footsteps of Aussies in a foreign land.

King Frederik X with Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine enters the balcony on Amalienborg Castle after his proclamation. Picture: Getty Images

“Her path has been the same as ours here, settling into a new country, trying to find your way, we love Queen Mary and the Danes love her as much as we do.”

Twins Samantha and Aaliyah Ebeling, 15, and their brother Cassius, 10, recently left Sydney with their family to live in Denmark.

“It’s great that Frederik and Mary are now king and queen, but I feel so sad that Margrethe is now no longer Queen,” said Cassius.

His sister Aaliyah added, “Queen Mary is great for the young people. We love her, she’s pretty and cool.”

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Their grandfather retired teacher David Ebeling, 81, originally from Casino, NSW, recalled meeting Queen Margrethe while teaching at Rygaards school in Copenhagen.

“She was so nice, she was watching the kids perform at our school and went outside and chain-smoked non-stop with her husband,” he said. “She felt so down to earth and was so friendly you felt that she was one of us.”

Twins Samana and Aaliyah Ebeling, 15, and their brother Cassius recently left Sydney with their family to live in Denmark.

Partial view shows the huge crowd of well wishers at Christiansborg Palace Square in Copenhagen, Denmark. Picture: AFP

King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark make their way past crowds of wellwishers in their carriage . Picture: AFP

Australian Ambassador to Denmark Kerin Ayyalaraju raised a toast at the event to the new Danish Queen, saying Margrethe’s decision to abdicate meant she can conclude her reign “on her own terms.”

“We share a sense of pride in the new Queen of Denmark, not only because of where she was born, but also the way she has embraced her role and represented Denmark and her love for a new country,” Ayyalaraju said.

“She’s raised children and represented Denmark on the world stage,” she said. “She knows what we mean when we say we are a Cherry Ripe on the beach … she gets us.”

Originally published as Australian expats celebrate Denmark’s new Queen Mary and King Frederik