Australia and Denmark don’t share a rich history, but on Thursday morning there will be one high-profile royal watching on with torn emotions as the two nations fight for their World Cup lives in Qatar.
The Socceroos take on FIFA’s No 10-ranked side in just over 24 hours, with Graham Arnold’s side aiming to reach the knockout rounds for the first time since 2006, with a win guaranteeing their place in the last-16.
Millions of fans Down Under will be watching with bated breath, and 16,000km away in Copenhagen, Australian-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 50, may feel torn as two nations close to her heart go head-to-head.
Earlier this month, Prince William caused outrage when he visited the England camp to send one final good luck message before Gareth Southgate’s team flew out to Doha.
William, who inherited the title Prince of Wales after the Queen’s death, was criticised for not visiting the Wales team ahead of the tournament. Wales have been drawn in the same group as England and Welsh actor Michael Sheen lead the backlash against the President of the Football Association.
Princess Mary will be watching Australia vs Denmark with a vested interest on Thursday
The Danish royal was born in Australia and lived Down Under for 28 years, based in Tasmania
She moved to Denmark in 2001 and married husband Prince Frederik three years later
Earlier this month Prince William – the Prince of Wales – suffered a faux pas when he wished England well before the World Cup. England take on Wales in Group B on Tuesday night
Mr Sheen accused William of not showing ‘a shred of embarrassment’ when he visited England’s St George’s Park training centre. The Prince of Wales has since thrown his support behind Rob Page’s team, who are on the brink of elimination from the tournament.
But Mary, who is married to the future king of Denmark, Frederik, hasn’t made the same faux pas this World Cup.
The royal – formerly known as Mary Donaldson – grew up in Tasmania and spent 28 years of her life in Australia before she moved to the Scandinavian nation and married Frederik at Copenhagen Cathedral in 2004.
They first met at a Sydney bar while watching the city’s Olympics in 2000; then an advertising executive, Mary, spent hours chatting to the heir to the Danish throne.
However, Mary has previously said she will support all Aussies – unless they are competing against a Danish opponent
Frederik and Mary make their first official appearance together at the Tasmania Yacht Club ahead of the Dragon Boat World Championship on January 19, 2003
More than two decades later, the couple, who share four children, are living proof that fairytales can come true.
After the Slip Inn encounter, a then 32-year-old Frederik – who was in Australia to support Denmark’s Olympic sailing team – asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed.
‘The first time we met we shook hands. I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, “Do you know who these people are”?’ Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne.
They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen’s Studieskolen in 2001.
At their wedding in Copenhagen on May 14, 2004, the newly minted Crown Princess wore a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905
Over the space of six years, Mary and Frederik welcomed four children, Prince Christian (far right), Princess Isabella (second right) and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (front of photo)
In early 2003, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8.
‘From today, Mary is mine and I am hers,’ the prince said on their wedding day. ‘I love her and I will protect her with all my love.’
Mary opted for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905, however, in a nod to her heritage, she carried a bouquet of Australian snow gum eucalyptus interspersed with blooms from the Palace garden.
Her family has returned to Mary’s native Australia on many occasions, visiting famous landmarks in Sydney, Canberra and the Northern Territory and even spending Christmas Down Under in 2015.
With her title of a crowned Princess of Denmark, Mary has sworn allegiance to the Scandinavian country, but does any part of her still barrack for green and gold?
Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, she opened up on where her loyalties lie when she declared that she would support all Australian athletes, on one condition.
‘I’ll absolutely support Australians,’ Princess Mary told The Today Show. ‘So long as they’re not competing against a Dane.’
Australia and Denmark last met at the 2018 World Cup, where they played out a 1-1 draw. Prior to that, Princess Mary was in the stands as the Danes beat the Socceroos 2-0 in a friendly in Copenhagen back in 2012.
On occasion, the princess is known to pay a secret tribute to the country of her birth. In June 2021, she stepped out in an Australian-designed dress when she attended the ‘Mind of Music’ concert in Odense, 167km south of the capital, Copenhagen.
Earlier this year, she donated $50,000 to an Australian charity fighting childhood bullying after celebrating her 50th birthday.
Australia (left) fight for their World Cup lives when they face Denmark (R) in Al-Wakrah, Qatar
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