Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has this week returned to her native Tasmania to holiday with her children, two-year-old Prince Christian and 15-month-old Princess Isabella.
It's the first trip home in two years for Princess Mary, and the first time in Australia for young Princess Isabella, who was born in April 2007. The visit is a clear indication that home and family remains as important as ever to the European royal, since marrying Crown Prince Frederik in a lavish ceremony in Denmark in 2004.
The Prince is currently in Beijing enjoying being a spectator of the Olympic Games. Coincidentally, it was at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games that Mary met the heir to one of Europe's oldest monarchies over drinks, where he was with the Danish sailing team.
He is expected to arrive in Hobart around August 26.
Mary and Fred— a love story
In this edited extract from the Danish best-seller, Frederik – Crown Prince of Denmark, the heir to the Danish throne reveals how Mary Donaldson captured his heart during a chance encounter at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and of their joyous journey together.
Three days and nights with no mobile coverage. Seventy-two hours without hearing Mary's voice. Frederik is longing. Never before in his life has the Crown Prince felt the same urge to share his thoughts and experiences with another person. Now he wants to share everything with Mary, a person he hasn't even known for seven weeks.
In the tropical climate of Cape York, the Crown Prince spends some days together with his friend, Jeppe Handwerk, in the unspoiled wilderness. It is early November 2000.
Looking out onto the Torres Strait towards Papua New Guinea, Frederik and Jeppe feed the sharks with wild turkeys they have trapped in snares. Here, Frederik senses the fine line between life and death as the sharks devour their prey within seconds. Taking care on the remote outcrop, they make their way slowly back to camp, the saltwater crocodiles occasionally thrashing in the mangroves. It is a hair-raising experience — this is a harsh, unapproachable, utterly wild paradise. Frederik, with Mary in his thoughts, is looking forward to sharing all these experiences with her.
Having turned the jeep around after a couple of days to head through the rainforest towards Cooktown, Frederik switches on his mobile several times in the hope of finding coverage. Eventually, after many gruelling hours behind the wheel, he is through to Mary and able to tell her of sea turtles, sharks and crocodiles. And to tell her he misses her. Frederik is in love. He promises that the couple will be reunited in just two days and that he will remain in Sydney for a week, before returning home to Denmark. No sooner has he concluded their conversation than his mobile rings. He recognises Queen Margrethe's number.
For the full extract pick up a copy of the August issue of The Weekly — OUT NOW!
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