However, the public's greatest attention is not solely focused on the new king, but seems to be directed towards the woman beside the new monarch – Queen Mary Donaldson, who has long been seen as the figure wielding "power behind the throne."
From "The Australian Cinderella"
For a long time, in the public and media's perception, the life and love story of Queen Mary Donaldson of Denmark has been considered a modern-day Cinderella. Before becoming the Princess and then Queen of Denmark, this beautiful member of the Danish royal family was simply a girl born in Hobart, Australia, into an ordinary family.
The daughter of a mathematics professor, with two older sisters and an older brother, having completed studies in law and commerce at the University of Tasmania, and working in advertising and real estate in Melbourne, Edinburgh, and Sydney, Mary's life could very well have taken a completely different, if not entirely reversed, course if not for a fateful encounter with a man named Frederik at a Sydney bar in 2000. At that time, Mary was 28 years old, while the Crown Prince of Denmark was 32.
Danish King Frederik X (left) and Queen Mary wave to the crowd after the coronation ceremony at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on January 14, 2024. Photo: Bo Amstrup/AFP/Getty Images.
“The first time we met, we shook hands and chatted. I didn’t know he was the Prince of Denmark. Half an hour later, a friend came up to me and said, ‘Do you know what kind of people those are?’”— Mary later recalled the meeting, precisely a “moment of love at first sight,” “Cupid’s arrow striking both hearts” that day.
Like European royal families, marriages between members of the Danish royal family and commoners are not uncommon, but they are not widespread either. Therefore, the romance between the Crown Prince of Denmark and a commoner from Australia surprised many. The relationship happened unexpectedly, and even more surprisingly, it quickly blossomed into marriage, without facing as many obstacles or opposition from the royal family as many had feared.
At the end of 2021, the Australian girl resolutely followed her heart, packing her bags and traveling alone to a foreign land just to be with the man she loved. At the end of 2022, their relationship became public as images of them together were constantly discovered by the media. However, at that time, those familiar with Prince Frederik's romantic history were skeptical about the longevity of this "Prince and Cinderella" romance. However, all their predictions proved incorrect.
In April 2003, the couple received the consent and blessing of Queen Margrethe – Frederik's mother. In October 2023, just under three years after their first meeting, the couple became engaged. On May 14, 2004, their fairytale wedding took place at Copenhagen Cathedral. Mary had to renounce her Australian citizenship and convert to a different religion in order to officially become a royal bride.
To this day, the couple has journeyed together for nearly two decades. Their happy marriage has been turbulent, even facing many rough seas , but it remains intact with four children: Prince Christian (17 years old) – the next in line to the throne, Princess Isabella (15 years old), and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (12 years old). The emotional kiss between the new King and Queen of Denmark on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle on January 14th, amidst the resounding applause of hundreds of thousands of cheering fans below, is a testament to their marriage. It is precisely this fairytale-like love story that has inspired numerous Hollywood films such as The Prince and Me (2004) and Mary: The Making of a Princess (2015).
Prince Frederik and Mary were married on May 14, 2004, at Copenhagen Cathedral.
Towards "Power Behind the Throne" or the position of "one of the most popular members of the royal family."
The greatest reward for the woman from Tasmania, Australia, after nearly two decades as a daughter-in-law of the Danish Royal Family, besides her four children and her title as Queen, is perhaps that she has become one of the most popular members of the royal family.
A poll published by Danish television station TV2 in December 2023 showed that Princess Mary was the third most popular member of the Danish royal family, after the Queen and her husband. More recently, the Danish news agency Ritzau conducted a public opinion survey on the level of support for King Frederik and Queen Mary. The results showed that 82% believed Frederik was suitable for the role of head of state, while 86% had a favorable opinion of Mary. Author Trine Villemann even stated that Mary is considered "the power behind the throne." Decades ago, Mary, then a Princess, gradually took on the responsibility of representing the Queen on diplomatic visits to other countries. In September 2006, the Princess made a solo official visit to the Czech Republic.
There are many explanations for Queen Mary's popularity. Her ability to communicate and speak in public is a major plus, with some even suggesting that she is far more eloquent than her husband. Her unwavering dedication to her family and raising her four children to adulthood also earns her high praise.
Queen Mary looked beautiful in many of her activities.
Queen Mary is known and highly regarded for her efforts to combat bullying, domestic violence, and social isolation, as well as for promoting mental health and women's rights. “She is a passionate advocate for the gender rights of women and girls. She has consistently supported refugees and, in doing so, has proven her worth as a role model for leadership in Denmark,” observes Juliet Rieden, Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Women's Weekly. Her philanthropic activities, including the establishment of the Mary Foundation in 2007, have also consistently received high praise.
One point that cannot be overlooked when discussing the reasons why Mary is so beloved is her impressive and incredibly refined sense of style and fashion . Whether at formal ceremonies or in everyday moments, she always inspires admiration for her elegance and trendy fashion sense, perfectly suited to each event she attends. On one occasion, Mary even surpassed Princess Kate of England in polls for the best-dressed member of the Royal Family.
“Every word Mary says becomes breaking news. Mary’s face appears frequently in magazines. Mary’s fashion sense is enthusiastically embraced by women ”—for decades, this has been the public’s perception of the new Queen of Denmark. Her influence is so widespread.
Ha Anh
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