- Australians celebrated Mary Donaldson's accession to the Danish throne on Monday.
- Celebrations were held across Australia, including in Queen Mary's hometown of Hobart, Tasmania.
- After the abdication of Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederick was proclaimed King of Denmark.
On Monday, the day after an Australian was sworn in as Queen of Denmark, her home country celebrated an unlikely fairy tale with cocktails, picnics and a 'Danish Fiesta'.
Mary Donaldson's journey from Tasmania to become the world's first Australian-born queen captivated both Danes and Australians. People gathered across Australia to mark the occasion, including in Hobart, the capital of the southern island state of Tasmania, home of Queen Mary.
In Melbourne, large crowds gathered at Denmark House, one of Melbourne's oldest social clubs, to celebrate the coronation with a special cultural event.
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“It doesn't happen every day that an Australian becomes queen. I don't know if it will happen again,” Danish club vice-president Rikka Volp told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Denmark's King Frederick After her mother, Queen Margrethe II, formally signed the abdication, Denmark's prime minister proclaimed Frederick X as king. A large crowd rejoiced at the passing of the throne from a beloved monarch to his popular son. (Emil Nikolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpics, via AP)
Mary's husband, Crown Prince Frederik, was proclaimed king of the European nation on Sunday, two weeks after his 83-year-old mother Queen Margrethe II announced she would become the first Danish royal family in nearly 900 years to abdicate.
Several Hobart landmarks were lit up in Danish colors of red and white, and many residents celebrated with picnics and high tea at Talona Beach, near Queen Mary's childhood home.
Celebrations were also held at the Slip Inn, the Sydney pub where the royal couple first met during the 2000 Olympics. The property announced it will be hosting a “Danish Fiesta” in January featuring a special “There's Something About Mary” cocktail.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Queen Mary's accession to the throne as a “great day”.
“She has carried herself in a way that I think has brought tremendous support and pride to all Australians,” he told ABC's Radio National program on Monday.
“I am so proud that Hobart-born Mary Donaldson has become Queen of Denmark,” he said.
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Mr Albanese said the government had made a donation to a charity working to protect the endangered Tasmanian devil.
“Mary grew up in Tasmania, so it's only fitting that Australia take this opportunity to make a gift to support Tasmanian devil conservation,” he said in a statement.
Queen Mary's home state Premier Jeremy Rockliffe said Tasmanians “couldn't be more proud” of Queen Mary and said visits by the royal couple were “always an open invitation”.
The Tasmanian Government also announced that it will be giving away a table made from Tasmanian Huon pine, handmade by a local furniture maker, and donating it to a charity supporting children's welfare. It's a cause that Queen Mary, 51, a mother of four, actively supported during her 20 years as Crown Princess of Denmark.
