Celebrating “My Man”

Tiaras and medals dazzled, and Crown Princess Mary gave thanks to the love who “swept me off my feet”, as Denmark wished Crown Prince Frederik a happy 50th birthday. Juliet Rieden reports.

- Juliet Rieden

When European royalty throws a party, it’s a sight to behold. And, when the Danish heir apparent, father of four and husband to Australian Crown Princess Mary turns 50, celebrations are in order. There were tiaras till dawn, military regalia dripping with medals and a parade of glittering gowns at Copenhagen’s Christiansborg Palace on May 26. Among the more than 350 guests were princes and princesses and kings and queens from all over Europe, plus the cream of Danish society.

Earlier, the Crown Prince had appeared solo on his palace balcony and seemed humbled to be greeted by rapturous applause from the Danish public. The eldest son of Queen Margrethe II and the late Prince Henrik, who died just a few months ago, has not always seemed confident in the spotlight. But now at 50, with Crown Princess Mary by his side and his children Prince Christian, 12, Princess Isabella, 11, and seven-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess  Josephine around him, this Crown Prince has surely arrived.