Both left their life as “commoners” to marry into a foreign royal family.
But the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, 41, and Princess Mary of Denmark, 50, could not be more different.
While Australian-born Mary, formerly Mary Donaldson, accepted her new royal title after moving to Denmark, Meghan has burned all ties with the British monarchy for good.
Both left their life as “commoners” to marry into a foreign royal family. But the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, 41, (left) and Princess Mary of Denmark, 50, (right) could not be more different
As Meghan continues to barb The Firm in her latest Netflix docuseries, we take a look at how Mary set the gold standard for life as a modern day princess.
Born in Tasmania, Mary met Frederik from Denmark by chance in 2000 in a pub in Sydney.
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.
Meghan (right, with husband Prince Harry) has complained a lot since joining the royal family
The couple married in 2004 and now have four children.
Mary’s decision to marry a Danish king came with its own set of challenges: she had to give up her Australian citizenship and change religion from Presbyterianism to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.
Mary also had to learn a new language and get acquainted with Danish history and culture, as well as overcome the challenges of going from nobody to one of the most talked about women in the world.
Born in Tasmania, Mary met Frederik from Denmark by chance in 2000 in a pub in Sydney. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making clandestine trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish at Studieskolen in Copenhagen in 2001. The couple are pictured at their wedding on May 14, 2004
Mary’s decision to marry a Danish king came with its own set of challenges: she had to give up her Australian citizenship and change religion
She’s also had to learn a new language and get acquainted with Danish history and culture, as well as overcome the challenges of going from a nobody to one of the most talked about women in the world
Yet Mary did so without a word of complaint to the media – something Meghan failed to achieve.
Mary, who will one day become Queen of Denmark, has always avoided scandals.
Over the years, she has refused to speak negatively about others to the media and has maintained a dignified silence amid controversies such as the recent scandal involving Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s royal title.
Meghan, on the other hand, was reluctant to accept the expectations that come with marrying a prince. Pictured at her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018
Meghan, on the other hand, was reluctant to accept the expectations that come with marrying a prince.
Since Meghan stepped down as senior royal in 2020, she has clung to the limelight by making endless public digs at The Firm and the British press.
She has also complained extensively about how the British press was treated, despite having plenty of experience of fame before becoming a duchess.
Since Meghan stepped down as senior royal in 2020, she has clung to the limelight by making endless public digs at The Firm and the British press.
Media was a fairly accomplished media operator before meeting Harry, cultivating friendships with British WAGS and tabloids such as Piers Morgan.
In contrast, Mary had no experience of the press before becoming royal.
“I’m sure Mary looks at what Meghan has done and is horrified by it,” royal expert Phil Dampier told New Idea in 2020.
“I’m sure Mary looks at what Meghan has done and is horrified by it,” royal expert Phil Dampier told New Idea in 2020. Pictured: Mary and Frederick speak to local delegates in Francke
“Mary is dedicated to her role as Queen Margrethe’s supporter and she must feel that Harry and Meghan have failed Queen Elizabeth.
“If Mary had ‘made a Meghan,’ so be it [her] Marrying Frederik and then within two years luring him back to Australia where they met and taking him away from his family and destiny,” added Dampier.
In Meghan and Harry’s new Netflix documentary, which they were reportedly paid $100 million for, the American-born duchess lamented at length what a shock it was to join the royal family.
Meghan, who was raised Christian, was baptized into the Church of England before her marriage to Harry but reportedly didn’t have to be.
In Meghan and Harry’s new Netflix documentary, which they were reportedly paid $100 million for, the American-born duchess lamented at length what a shock it was to join the royal family. Meghan with Queen Elizabeth II in England on June 14, 2018
On the series, Meghan claimed she was “surprised” by the family’s formality, noting that she was a “hugger” – something she didn’t know was “upsetting for some Brits”.
She also seemed to mock royal protocol by making an exaggerated curtsy while describing her first encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Meghan said the whole occasion felt like an antiquated banquet at Medieval Times, a US family dinner theater with staged medieval-style games, sword fights and tournaments.
On the series, Meghan claimed she was “surprised” by the family’s formality, noting that she was a “hugger” – something she didn’t realize was “irritating to some Brits”.
Meghan also said she had to google the UK national anthem and was not given a Princess Diaries-esque crash course on royal etiquette.
Harry also spoke about his wife’s turmoil, claiming his family asked why Meghan needed more protection than other principals.
He said they failed to understand the “racial element” and displayed a “great level of unconscious bias.”
Meghan also said she had to google the UK national anthem and was not given a Princess Diaries-esque crash course on royal etiquette