King Frederik of Denmark has pulled at Aussies’ heartstrings after reflecting on his Sydney “meet-cute” with Queen Mary.
The Danish royal shared a touching tribute to his wife and her Australian homeland while in Canberra on Sunday, even dubbing Australia his “second home” duringe the state banquet speech.
Recounting the moment he met his wife-to-be at the Slip Inn pub in 2000, the 57-year-old could only gush about the country for introducing him to his Tasmanian-born wife, 54.
“For me, Australia has held a very special place in my heart ever since I slipped into that bar and lost it in a conversation that has never ended,” he lovingly shared.
The King then went on to highlight how the couple’s fairytale romance had united two nations – Denmark and Australia – that may not have had much to do with each other beforehand.
“Once upon a time, Denmark perhaps did not resonate widely in Australia. Then something changed,” he shared.
“In 2004, your Mary and I were married, and with that, Denmark once again had a Crown Princess. From that moment on, everyone ‘down under’ knew of the Nordic country ‘up over’.”
He then noted the great sacrifice his wife had made for him: leaving her home and moving across the globe “as far as one can possibly go”.
“For that, I will be forever grateful,” he added.
“Australia is our second home. Whether we come here for a family visit or a State Visit, we feel both excited and entirely at ease.”
He thanked his Australian family for embracing him and making him feel “truly welcome”, before admitting he, too, had embraced “everything Australian”.
“I have even come to understand and appreciate that cricket – like AFL – is not only a time-consuming part of your national heritage but also an essential form of social bonding – the Aussie way.”
Concluding the heartwarming speech, Frederik shared a touching toast to the “people of Australia and Denmark”, adding: “May our friendship continue to flourish and may the story we share continue happily ever after”.
On Monday, the heartbreaking reason for Queen Mary’s much-anticipated Australian tour was brought to light, with an insider revealing that her beloved father, John Donaldson, is battling a “decline” in his health.
“Mary insisted they wind up the tour in Hobart so she can stay on and spend as much time as possible with her dad,” a source told Woman’s Day.
“At 84, John’s not been able to travel for some time – he was devastated to miss her coronation [in January 2024] – but for Mary, every visit carries more weight as his decline is more visible to her than her siblings who see him all the time.”
The insider adds that Mary’s “homecoming isn’t just diplomatic, it’s personal”.