Take a look at the stunning transformation of Queen Mary of Denmark.
She was the fourth child to be born into her family, joining two sisters and a brother.
“Australia forms part of my identity and who I am.”
Unfortunately, the beginning of Mary’s adulthood was marked with tragedy.
I would have liked to have spent more time with her."
Queen Mary stayed in Tasmania for high school and college before attending graduate school in Melbourne.
And Queen Mary’s education didn’t end when she moved to Denmark.
In fact, there was much for Mary to learn when she arrived.
In addition to planning a wedding, the future queen was assimilating to a new culture.
“There was so much preparation.
In the summer of 2000, Mary was living and working in Sydney, Australia.
Frederik was in town for the summer Olympics, and the two met by happenstance at a bar.
To Mary, Frederik was just another guy.
To make their meet-cute even more random, it almost didn’t happen.
“I nearly didn’t go that evening,” Mary toldVogue Australia.
The two married in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 14, 2004, shortly after getting engaged.
The bride wore an Uffe Frank gown and accessorized with an heirloom veil and a diamond tiara.
Royals from other European countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Monaco were in attendance, too.
While some moments were surreal, others were very typical of a wedding day.
It was like being carried by the music as I walked.
The steps followed were reportedly typical for any foreign-born member of the Danish royal family.
Additionally, Mary converted Christian denominations, leaving the Presbyterian church and joining the Lutheran church after becoming royal.
Even after becoming an official citizen, Mary found certain aspects of her new life in Denmark difficult.
“It’s still frustrating sometimes with the language.
I can’t get across that extra 20 percent in some discussions.
The Danish have that dry sarcastic humour that Australians have; they don’t take themselves too seriously.
They really enjoy life,” Queen Mary toldVogue Australiaa few months into her marriage.
Eventually, all struggles subsided, and Mary fully embraced her new country.
“I am Dane.
I have a background that I am proud of and happy about and draw on where appropriate.
It is part of the person I am and always will be.
Luckily for Mary, the pressure was off quickly as she became pregnant soon after getting married.
Being royal didn’t remove Mary from the challenges all mothers face.
“We feel so blessed that we have four healthy, healthy, beautiful and happy children.
First a boy and a girl, then twins.
We’re going to have twins.
Queen Mary felt that ill-defined pressure from the beginning, but she quickly chose her path.
To Mary, being a representative of Denmark meant helping its citizens in any way she could.
Since then, she’s championed other causes, particularly those affecting women.
She’s also a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
“That was pretty daunting for me.
I was a T-shirt-and-shorts girl, known to go barefoot.”
“I like clothes that are simple with beautiful details.
“I’ve seen pictures of her and she dresses really well.
The outlet noted that Prada, Missoni, and Christian Louboutin were among her favorite designers at the time.
The jewels were once worn by Desiree Clary, a woman who was once engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte.
“In the new year, Crown Prince Frederik will be proclaimed king.
Crown Princess Mary will become queen.
The kingdom will have a new regent and a new royal couple.
Still, Mary was beaming on the day of the coronation.
“I stood with the children when you stepped out onto the balcony towards your fate.
It was a moment that moved me incredibly much.
We could hear and feel it, even if we couldn’t see it.
It was a beautiful moment.
Although they didn’t address the rumors, Queen Mary did note the challenges of becoming queen.
Like in her portraits before, Queen Mary wore beautiful jewels with unique history and special meaning to Denmark.
The set of jewels, made by C.M.
The jewels are also special to the country because they never leave Denmark.
It’s a natural, organic process that happens as generations come and go.”
