Hailed locally as the new ‘Queen from Taroona’, Tasmania’s Mary Elizabeth Donaldson has been officially proclaimed as the new Queen of Denmark.
51-year-old Mary joins husband Frederik in ascending the throne after the shock abdication announcement by Queen Margrethe, 83, on New Year’s Eve.
Mary stepped out of Christiansborg Palace with husband King Frederik just moments ago, becoming the first ever Australian monarch.
One of the oldest monarchies in the world, Denmark no longer has coronations – instead opting for a smaller type of ceremony.
Tens of thousands of people from all over Denmark converged outside the palace in Copenhagen to witness the event, with Danish media reporting Mary as possibly the ‘most popular royal’ in the country.
Tasmanians are celebrating the proclamation right across the state, with high-profile landmarks lit up in the colours of the Danish flag and proclamation parties & picnics being held in homes, bars and at beaches.
In honour of her proclamation, the Tasmanian Government have donated $10,000 to the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, a charity which Mary is an international patron of.
Meanwhile the Federal Government have donated $10,700 to Wildcare Tasmania in honour of Mary, supporting efforts in ensuring the survival of the Tasmanian Devil.
A tree is also set to be planted in Hobart to mark the occasion.
Mary grew up in a modest home on nearby Morris Avenue and went to Taroona High School, before later attending Hobart College and the University of Tasmania.
She was living in Sydney as a marketing executive when she met Prince Frederik at Sydney’s Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics.
Tasmanians can send a personal message to the Royal Couple via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s ‘Online Book of Congratulations’.
