They met by chance at the Sydney CBD pub, the Slip Inn, during the 2000 Olympics.
And now, 22 years later, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have celebrated the confirmation of their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Princess Isabella.
Hobart-born Mary, 50, looked every inch the Queen in an amaranth-colored gown for the event, held at Fredensborg Castle Church in Fredensborg, Denmark on Saturday.
Royals: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have celebrated the confirmation of their eldest daughter, 15-year-old Princess Isabella. LR: Princess Josephine, Frederik, Princess Isabella, Mary, Prince Vincent and Prince Christian
The garment had a high collar and long sleeves.
Mary-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson paired the dress with tan stiletto heels and a bone-colored headband with a veil.
She wore teardrop earrings and kept a box clutch at her side.
Bold: Hobart-born Mary, 50, looked every inch the Queen in an amaranth-colored gown for Saturday’s event, which took place at Fredensborg Palace Church in Fredensborg, Denmark
Revealed: Mary – born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson – paired the dress with tan stiletto heels and a bone-colored headband with a veil
Daughter Isabella, meanwhile, looked chic for her big day in a cream suit with peep toe heels.
The teenage princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and older brother Christian.
According to the Danish Royal Family’s official Instagram account, “Isabella was confirmed today by the royal confessor, Bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulson.”
“Over the past 100 years, Fredensborg Castle Church has been used by several preachers to members of the royal family.”
“In particular, the Church provided the framework for royal confirmations. Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were confirmed in this church in 1955 and 1981 respectively, and His Royal Highness Prince Christian most recently in 2021.”
Her big day: Daughter Isabella looked chic on her big day in a cream suit with peep toe heels
Pecking order: The teenage princess is currently third in line to the Danish throne after her father and older brother Christian
After meeting them at the Slip Inn in 2000, 32-year-old Fred – who was in Australia to support Denmark’s Olympic sailing team – asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed.
“When we first 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 clandestine trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark in 2001 to study Danish at Studieskolen in Copenhagen.
Fairy tale: Mary and Frederik met by chance at the Sydney CBD pub, the Slip Inn, during the 2000 Olympics
Origin story: After meeting them at the Slip Inn in 2000, 32-year-old Fred – who was in Australia supporting Denmark’s Olympic sailing team – asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed
In early 2003, Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe, publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Palace later that year, on 8 October.
Frederik and Mary were married in Copenhagen Cathedral on May 14, 2004, with the newly crowned princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first worn by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905.
Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born on October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007.
Almost four years later, on January 8, 2011, Mary and Frederik welcomed twins Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
In-laws: In early 2003, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe (pictured centre) publicly admitted the relationship and the couple announced their engagement later that year, on 8 October, at Amalienborg Palace