Why New Queen Of Denmark Is Just Like Princess Of Wales Kate Middleton
Why New Queen Of Denmark Is Just Like Princess Of Wales Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton Will Reportedly Be Paying Close Attention to a Royal Drama Brewing Outside Britain
Over the New Year’s weekend, the Danish royal family made big news, and there is reportedly one British royal family member who is paying attention to see how the drama unfolds. After a 52-year reign, Queen Margrethe II revealed her unexpected decision to abdicate the throne on Jan. 14, 2024. That means that Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who married into the family, will become Queen Consort of Denmark.
For the Princess of Wales, this will be a fascinating time for her because Mary is jumping into her new role with only two weeks’ notice. Like Kate, Princess Mary is considered an “exemplary” public figure, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Newsweek. “I would not compare her to Catherine as the British and Danish monarchies are so very different,” he explained. “Both are glamorous, though Catherine is far more high profile, but the Danish monarchy is less formal. Catherine has a long while to wait until she is queen, Mary becomes queen in a fortnight. However Catherine will undoubtedly watch her experience closely.”
The women are also fashion icons with Kate and Mary being sweetly called “twins” for their similar style choices. Their preferences for “quality” pieces along with “expert tailoring and craftsmanship” is easily identifiable with their crisp, clean design choices. Kate might be able to take a few wardrobe tips from Mary as her style evolves in her new role. The duo has crossed paths over the last few years on several occasions, but it’s unclear if they have developed a warm friendship behind the scenes.
The fairy tale rise of an Australian sales executive to the upper ranks of European royalty is set to be completed later this month when Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark becomes the country’s Queen Consort.
The final stretch of Mary’s path from Tasmania to the Danish throne was cleared on New Year’s Eve by the surprise abdication of Queen Margrethe II, who announced that she will be stepping down on January 14.
It’s an exceedingly rare move in Denmark, where a monarch hasn’t abdicated since 1146 when King Eric III gave up the crown to join a monastery, according to the Royal House.
Margrethe’s eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, will become King, while his wife, Crown Princess Mary, will become the first Australian to become Queen, a development that has delighted her supporters back home.
For many of Mary’s Australian admirers, it’s a fitting finale to a romance that famously began in a rowdy Sydney pub around the time of the Olympics in 2000.
As the story goes, the two locked eyes in the Slip Inn, considered an unlikely place to find a Danish royal, much less the origins of a couple who would later become Denmark’s future King and Queen.
Millions watched the couple get married in 2004. Two decades later, their ascension to the throne is expected to captivate audiences worldwide – from Copenhagen to the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, where Mary was born.
The other major parallel between Kate and Mary is the unfortunate gossip that comes with marrying into a royal family. Both Prince William and Crown Prince Frederik have been a part of affair rumors over the years. While neither of the entanglements have ever been confirmed, both women know what it is like to be involved with the often hurtful headlines. Despite the sometimes soap-opera existence, Frederik and Mary are considered “extremely popular” in Denmark, just like Kate and William in the U.K. So, if Kate is looking for any guidance, the next few weeks should be a time for her to take copious royal notes.
