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.
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.
In her speech at the gala dinner, the Queen showed her understanding of her son’s situation and paid tribute to his journey. “To be a crown prince is not at all easy for a very young and searching person,” she said. “But you found your own way ... You learnt to grit your teeth and you finished the race.”
This story is from the July 2018 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
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This story is from the July 2018 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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