Mary donaldson (1972-) - Crown princess of denmark
Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2005
by Jiawei Shen Oil on canvas (155.9 x 232.8 cm) Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra Commissioned with funds provided by Mary Isabel Murphy 2005 |
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark is without a doubt the most talked-about Danish-Australian.
The story of the Australian commoner who met Frederik the Crown Prince of Denmark during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and since went on to marry and have four children with him, is well known. The union of the two has catapulted Denmark into the awareness of the everyday Australian. There is no denying how universally popular Mary is in Denmark, which has undoubtedly benefitted the overall popularity of the Royal family. |
Mary elizabeth donaldson
Mary was born on 5 February 1972 in Hobart, Tasmania. Her Scottish parents are John Dalgleish Donaldson, a renowned mathematician and professor, Henrietta (nee Home) who passed away in 1997. Mary is the youngest of four children.
Mary went to elementary school in Houston, Texas, and the family later moved back to Tasmania where she first attended Sandy Bay Infants School, then Waimea Heights Primary School, Taroona High School and later Hobart Matriculation College. In 1994, she graduated from University of Tasmania with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Law.
Mary went to elementary school in Houston, Texas, and the family later moved back to Tasmania where she first attended Sandy Bay Infants School, then Waimea Heights Primary School, Taroona High School and later Hobart Matriculation College. In 1994, she graduated from University of Tasmania with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Law.
the sydney olympics
After university, Mary moved to Melbourne where she worked in the advertising industry for the following four years for companies such as DDB Needham and MOJO Partners. Following the untimely death of her mother following heart surgery at the age of 55 and when Mary was just 25, she went travelling to America and Europe spending considerable time in Scotland. Upon her return to Australia in 1999, she moved to Sydney initially working in advertising and later as a sales director with a property group, Belle Property.
It was while working in Sydney that Mary met Crown Prince Frederik who was attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000. They famously met at the Slip Inn bar in Sydney and in the following two years their long-distance relationship developed to the point of Mary moving to Europe in 2002. Initially she lived in Paris where she worked as an English tutor and six months later she settled in Copenhagen working for Microsoft as a project consultant.
It was while working in Sydney that Mary met Crown Prince Frederik who was attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000. They famously met at the Slip Inn bar in Sydney and in the following two years their long-distance relationship developed to the point of Mary moving to Europe in 2002. Initially she lived in Paris where she worked as an English tutor and six months later she settled in Copenhagen working for Microsoft as a project consultant.
crown princess mary
Crown Princess Mary's coat of arms
On the 8th of October 2003, their official engagement was announced and on 14th of May the following year, Mary Donaldson and Crown Prince Frederik married in Copenhagen Cathedral. The Danish Parliament passed the so-called Mary’s Law giving Mary Danish citizenship upon her marriage and she also converted to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. When Frederik ascends the throne, it will be the first time that an Australian-born woman will be queen.
The couple have since had four children, Prince Christian (born 2005), Princess Isabella (born 2007) and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (born 2011).
Over the years, Mary has been awarded a number of honours and decorations, including the Order of the Elephant. Her father was equally honoured with the Order of Dannebrog. Mary was also granted a personal coat of arms, showing a gules MacDonald eagle symbolising the Scottish ancestry as well as two gold Commonwealth Stars from the Coat of arms of Australia.
The couple have since had four children, Prince Christian (born 2005), Princess Isabella (born 2007) and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (born 2011).
Over the years, Mary has been awarded a number of honours and decorations, including the Order of the Elephant. Her father was equally honoured with the Order of Dannebrog. Mary was also granted a personal coat of arms, showing a gules MacDonald eagle symbolising the Scottish ancestry as well as two gold Commonwealth Stars from the Coat of arms of Australia.
charitable work
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Mary has devoted herself to a number of organisations through her patronage.
These include programmes devoted to humanitarian aid (UN Population Fund), health (World Heath Organisation; Danish Heart Organisation; Danish Cancer Foundation; Danish Mental Health Foundation), sport (Danish Swimming Federation), culture (Danish Cultural Institute; Sculpture by the Sea), social (anti-bullying children’s charity The Alannah and Madeline Foundation; Children’s Aid Foundation), education (Crown Princess Mary Scholarship) and research and science (Research Day). |
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2006
Ralph Heimans Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra |
Mary is also an Honorary Life Governor of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and a Cancer Centre at Westmead Hospital in Sydney has been named after her as the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Care Centre Westmead.
In September 2007, Mary also announced the Mary Foundation, funded by private and public donations, which is dedicated to combating social isolation focusing on three areas: bullying and well-being, domestic violence and loneliness.
In September 2007, Mary also announced the Mary Foundation, funded by private and public donations, which is dedicated to combating social isolation focusing on three areas: bullying and well-being, domestic violence and loneliness.