Crown Prince Frederik and his bride

The couple, the prince in full military colours, his bride in a simple ivory dress, with train and bridal veil, left in an open horse-drawn carriage.

She becomes Australia's first European princess in a reigning monarchy.

Royals and dignitaries from around the world were at the Vor Frue Kirke cathedral for the ceremony.

Ms Donaldson, accompanied by her father, walked up the aisle carrying a bouquet of white roses with stephanotis highlights and Australian eucalyptus with berries.

Her veil was made from 100-year-old Irish lace.

Prince Frederik, 35, in a formal Danish naval uniform, was visibly moved by the occasion, wiping away tears as he smiled, waiting for his bride.

'Fairy tale'

Bishop of Copenhagen Erik Svendsen, who married the couple, said in his sermon that "nothing in the real world is as uncomplicated as in the fairy tales." And there was no "You may kiss the bride" after they had exchanged vows. But the bride did give her prince a kiss on the cheek as they were driven through the streets in the carriage, promoting applause from the crowd.

Denmark has been celebrating the wedding in Copenhagen, which has been bedecked with Danish and Australian flags, while portraits of the couple are hanging in shop windows.

One well-wisher, Annie Jensen said: "She is good for Frederik and good for the people.

"She will represent Denmark and sell us abroad, working for us just like Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik."

Crowds on the streets outside the cathedral were able to watch the ceremony on large screens.

The couple met when the 35-year-old crown prince attended the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In a tale redolent of Denmark's famous storyteller Hans Christian Anderson, Ms Donaldson said she was unaware of his royal status at the time.

"I guess you could say it's a modern fairy tale," she told Denmark's Politiken newspaper in an interview this week.

Family tradition

Ms Donaldson comes from the island of Tasmania. Her father is a maths professor and her stepmother is British author Susan Moody. Her natural mother died in 1997.

In order to marry the crown prince, she has had to give up her Australian and British citizenship and convert to the Lutheran Church.

Crown Prince Frederik, the heir to the throne, is following what is becoming a family tradition by choosing a foreign spouse.

His younger brother Joachim is already married to a Hong-Kong born Briton.

Queen Margrethe herself married a Frenchman — diplomat Count Henri la Laborde de Monpezat, who later became Prince Henrik.

Many Danish people remain strong supporters of the monarchy, and Crown Prince Frederik has wide popularity.

Who Is Crown Prince Frederik?

Crown Prince Frederik

His popularity is worthy of a king. Crown Prince Frederik has the Danes' word for that. The Crown Prince is the first member of the Danish royal house to have been chosen as 'Dane of the Year' in several opinion polls ahead of some of the nation's most admired stars from the worlds of sports and entertainment. The informality of the Crown Prince makes him a man after the Danes' heart.

The Role of Heir to the Throne

However, Crown Prince Frederik has not always found the role of heir to the throne an easy one. In his childhood and youth he feared his destiny and at times he has doubted that he was able – or wanted – to fill the role of Denmark's king. But through personal development and an all-round education, the Crown Prince has turned into a trump card for the Danish monarchy, which is one of the oldest in the world. It is therefore also due to him that the monarchy is so highly regarded by the Danish population.

Like his mother, Queen Margrethe II (b.1940), and his maternal grandfather, King Frederik IX (1899-1972), he has understood that the modern monarchy has to develop and adapt to the times without jeopardising the traditional values. Crown Prince Frederik is conscious of his responsibility to history. He is very aware that he represents an institution which it has taken centuries to establish and which he must respect.

The Crown Prince will be King Frederik X – one day. In Denmark it is not traditional for the monarch to abdicate, so Crown Prince Frederik must be prepared to bide his time for many years yet. He has himself stated how he wants to use his life as heir to the throne: 'My goal is to become a national rallying point and to be an ambassador for my country.' But he also adds: 'I do not want to shut myself up in a castle. I want to live. I want to be myself. I want to be human.

Childhood

Crown Prince Frederik was born on 26 May 1968, 11 months after the wedding in Holmen's Church (Holmens Kirke), when the popular and artistically gifted heir to the Danish throne, Princess Margrethe, married the French count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat (b.1934). In 1969 the couple had another son, Prince Joachim, who is second in line to the throne.

The children were raised with firmness, consistency and love, and later in life both have stated that they were strictly brought up and that demands were made on them. It was the ambition of the young successor couple to give their two sons a childhood like other children. Thus there was never any doubt that they would go to an ordinary school, that they would go together and that they would not receive special treatment.

The choice fell on the private Krebs' Skole in Copenhagen, a school with soul, where the teaching of history and languages played an important part. During those years the Crown Prince was strongly influenced by the legendary principal Jørgen Stegelmann. He was a man who knew how to talk to children and with children. He had ardour and was a marvellous story teller. With his cultural liberalism, he exerted a strong influence on the young Prince Frederik.

Crown Prince Frederik's maternal grandmother, the highly respected Queen Ingrid (1910-2000), a Swedish princess who came to Denmark in 1935, also played a part in forming him. In the book En familie og dens dronning (A Family and Its Queen, 1996), she paints a loving portrait of the heir to Denmark's throne: 'The Crown Prince has a big heart. He is a very warm person.

That will be one of his strengths as king. The Crown Prince reminds me of my husband (King Frederik IX). I believe the Prince's character owes something to him. Also his joviality. And he is so full of the same kind of humour. And a strong sense of duty.

School Attendance in France and Denmark

In 1982 Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were enrolled in the distinguished elite school École des Roches in Normandy in France. Especially their father, Prince Henrik, wanted them to become acquainted with the French language and French history. In many ways it was a tough experience for the two young princes, who came from a very protected environment in Denmark.

At this time Crown Prince Frederik began to realise that he would never be what he perhaps wanted most of all: an ordinary person. In a later interview he has spoken about the gloomy thoughts he had about his future: 'Initially the idea of being king was something big and scary. Something dark and depressing. I felt as if a blanket had been thrown over me, something which limited my opportunities and my desire to explore the world.

When the princes returned from France, they were enrolled in the upper secondary school Øregaard Gymnasium in Hellerup in Northern Copenhagen. They were both well equipped: they spoke English and French fluently and were physically in top form.

Throughout his life, Crown Prince Frederik has sought big physical challenges. He is a good tennis player, an excellent horseman and a fine swimmer. He has run in several marathons in Denmark and abroad and also yachts at competition level. He is a sportsman with a hot temper, a competitive person who hates losing. He has also used the big physical challenges as mental exercise. As heir to the throne he does not yet have an official motto, but as his personal motto he has chosen: Learning through Trial.

An All-round Education

6 May 1986, Crown Prince Frederik turned 18. Officially he was grown up and he joined the Council of State where the sovereign of the constitutional monarchy meets his or her ministers about 15 times a year to sign the Acts of the country. He can now rule on behalf of his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who succeeded to the throne when King Frederik IX died on 14 January 1972.

A few weeks after joining the Council of State, Crown Prince Frederik passed his A-levels and immediately started military training as a recruit with the Royal Danish Life Guards. He later chose a transfer to the Hussars where he trained as an officer.

In 1989 Crown Prince Frederik went on a study visit to Robert Moldavi's famous vineyards in California to learn about viniculture. The Crown Prince's interest in wine is among other things influenced by his father's running the wine-producing Château de Caïx near Cahors in Southern France. Here the royal family spend part of their holidays every year.

The same year the Crown Prince started his academic studies. In the 1960s, Queen Margrethe had among other things studied political science at the University of Aarhus and the plan was for the Crown Prince to attend a few terms at the University as his mother had done.

Danish royal family

But the Crown Prince wanted more. He wanted to be the first member of the Danish royal house to complete a full academic education: 'The decision to have a real academic education was a stage on the way to gaining more ballast and weight', he later explained. 'It gives greater strength to master yourself and reach the goal you set. I do not want to be helped to anything. I want to test my own strength.'

In 1992-1993 Crown Prince Frederik studied at Harvard University in the USA under the name Frederik Henriksen (Henriksen meaning 'son of Henrik'). He later established a fund to support young Danes studying at Harvard.

In 1995 Crown Prince Frederik completed his university education in political science at the University of Aarhus after the prescribed number of years and with an exam result above average. He was particularly interested in international politics and wrote his main paper on the foreign policy of the Baltic States. He visited these countries several times during his studies.

In Århus, the second-largest city in Denmark, the Crown Prince during this period found a sanctuary where he could live almost like other young people. He went to cafés and met young people from very different backgrounds. Here he got to know another and less privileged Denmark and here he developed the social awareness which is part of the special talent he has for speaking to all kinds of people.

The Naval Diving Corps

After graduating in political science, Crown Prince Frederik returned to the armed forces. This time he went for the elite unit, the Naval Diving Corps. 300 applicants took the entrance test. Four passed. One of them was the Danish Crown Prince who, under the name Pingo, completed one of the physically and mentally most demanding training courses in the Danish armed forces.

His time with the Diving Corps not only gave him weight and self-confidence. It also made him respected as an heir to the throne who has extended the limits to what a future king may do. Crown Prince Frederik has later explained that he joined the Diving Corps because he has always been fascinated by excitement and physically demanding challenges.

When he originally started in the armed forces, he discovered that this was the place where he could realise some of his childhood dreams. The Crown Prince passed the challenges of the Diving Corps with flying colours.

International Tasks

Other young people can measure themselves against clear criteria of success in their profession. However, there is no clearly defined crown prince role. He has to create it himself. He can never have an ordinary job, but Crown Prince Frederik had a taste in autumn 1994, when he spent three months with the Danish UN mission in New York.

He was not merely a guest. He worked in the UN on human rights and social issues. He contributed to the drafting of documents and the preparation of meetings and himself made a speech on behalf of Denmark about the protection of UN personnel in the field. The period in New York helped give the Crown Prince an international profile, which was further developed in 1998-1999 when he was stationed at the Danish Embassy in Paris as First Embassy Secretary and participated full-time in the day-to-day work.

Crown Prince Frederik also represents Denmark on official visits abroad. He has headed trade delegations and met both international top politicians and, as importantly, ordinary people. In addition he took over the post of Danish Red Cross Commissioner after his father in 2002. This is a role which involves frequent travelling to the trouble spots of the world.

Expedition Sirius 2000

After the indoor life in Paris 1998-1999, Crown Prince Frederik went to Northern Greenland. He had volunteered as one of the six sledge drivers on the privately organised sledge expedition called Expedition Sirius 2000. The expedition commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Sledge Patrol Sirius, which is responsible for the surveillance of North and North East Greenland and the enforcement of Danish sovereignty.

The long journey of 2,800 kilometres followed the North and North East coast of Greenland and lasted four months. The Danes were able to follow the journey through a series of television documentaries, where the Crown Prince himself talked about the hardships and the wonderful nature experiences.

Expedition Sirius 2000 followed in the sledge tracks of many famous Greenland expeditions, which made a deep impression on the Danish Crown Prince: 'We got an idea of how they must have felt on their journeys. What will you find around the next promontory? You simply have to have a look before you stop and pitch camp. The excitement and the expectations of the landscape – the desire and hunger to move on – they are still there.'

A Crown Prince in Tune with the Times

Crown Prince Frederik has stated that he wants to be a crown prince and king in tune with the times. The labels must be tailored to the person, not the other way round. He wants to shape his own role as a modern crown prince who is an ordinary person – and nonetheless something special.

Christian VIII's Palace

It is a subtle balance demanding a good social ear, which the Crown Prince has. 'The danger inherent in the office is of course that you become isolated,' he has said. 'You have to beware of that. But in our country the royal family is not at all isolated compared to other countries. Here we can count ourselves lucky that our institution moves with the times. That is the main thing: to move with the times. Find out the lie of the land and be influenced by what you experience. And create your institution on that basis.'

While Crown Prince Frederik's younger brother Joachim got married early – in 1995 – to Alexandra Christina Manley, who was born in Hong Kong in 1964, Crown Prince Frederik waited until the fall of 2003 before getting engaged to Australian-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, who is educated in law. The wedding is set for 14 May 2004, in the Cathedral of Copenhagen, Vor Frue Kirke.

In several candid interviews the Crown Prince has stated what the governing idea of his personal and official life as the future head of state of Denmark will be: 'The main thing is to be able to enjoy life. Be straightforward. Use your intelligence. And a little sarcasm, that is also quite good. Bring a little common sense into your daily life. And of course you have to be there for the people who are really important to you, whom you really love. There you must be prepared to go a long way. A very long way. Be there for someone. Want something for someone. And in my case: be something for my country.'

Crown Prince Frederik lives in Christian VIII's Palace in Amalienborg, which is the royal family's residence in Copenhagen. In the fall of 2003 he also took over the late Queen Ingrid's living-quarters in the Chancellery at Fredensborg Castle, which for generations have been the Danish royal family's summer residence.

In 2002, he completed an advanced training programme in military leadership at the Royal Danish Defence College, thus achieving the rank of commander in the Navy and major in the Army and in the Air Force. On 1 September 2002, he joined the Operation Staff of Defence Command Denmark.

Who Is Miss Mary Donaldson?

Crown Princess Mary: Budding fashion icon

Cut from royal cloth: As Mary Donaldson prepares to become one of the most photographed women in Denmark, fashion insiders say her clothing cues will set the trend for Danish women

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson

The cool, classic, slightly reserved style that has become Mary Donaldson's fashion signature in her short time in Denmark has drawn comparisons to the 1930's. Back then, it was the young, Swedish-born Queen Ingrid whose confident sense of style quickly established her as a royal fashion icon. Now 83 years of age, Celli Freifeldt was a supplier to the Royal Court for many years, and knew Queen Ingrid from her many visits to his central Copenhagen tailor shop. Freifeldt spoke with Ritzau news bureau this week on the legacy of Queen Ingrid, and how Mary measures up.

Crowning confidence

"Queen Ingrid was very conscious of quality and confident in her own style, and during her younger years, she meant a lot in terms of how Danish women wanted to dress. Mary Donaldson will become an arbiter of fashion in the same way. Public figures, and especially royals, have always been role models for fashion," said Freifeldt.

Celli Freifeldt has operated his tailor shop and haberdashery since 1949, and he personally visits the shop several times a week. The day-to-day running of the business has since been entrusted to his daughter, Annette Freifeldt.

"Mary Donaldson is an elegant woman, and her fine poise and air of dignity draw obvious parallels to the young Queen Ingrid," said Celli Freifeldt. The tailor recalled the late Queen as a competent clothing shopper who knew exactly which fabrics suited her, and was always well prepared when she visited his shop.

Equal parts Ingrid and Jackie O.

But Freifeldt says Mary Donaldson also bears a striking resemblance to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, especially the understated style of her years as First Lady. Freifeldt noted the dress Mary wore on the day of her engagement, 8 October, when the Danish people got their first glimpse of the future King and Queen as they waved from the balcony of Amalienborg. The man responsible for Mary's clean-cut, classic look, tailor Kenth Fredin, told Ritzau that Mary's style and image were becoming increasingly classic.

Fredin said that Mary would likely never achieve the same knack for classic style as her future sister-in-law, Princess Alexandra, whose Chanel-inspired twin sets and dress suits are decidedly more ladylike.

"Mary is clearly going to be a trendsetter. She almost has to be — or else face being skewered as 'the underdressed princess,'" said Fredin, who served an apprenticeship under ladies' tailor Jørgen Bender, the man behind Queen Margrethe's and Princess Alexandra's bridal gowns.

The Danish fashion industry is enthusiastic about Mary Donaldson and the role she will undoubtedly play in promoting Danish design. Designer Susanne Rützou called Mary's style classic and relaxed, with a refined sense for detail and femininity.

"She's already shown an interest in contemporary Danish design, and because she's so visible and presents herself so well, she may very well end up a kind of ambassador for Danish fashion," Rützou said.