10 things you need to know about Princess Mary ahead of the Aussie becoming a Queen

As Aussie-born Crown Princess Mary readies to become Queen of Denmark alongside her husband Crown Prince Frederik, there's actually much more to her story than the fairytale romance we know so much about.

From humble beginnings to advocating for women's rights and navigating the intricacies of royal life, here's what you didn't know about the background shaping the life of the future queen.

1. Princess Mary came from simple beginnings

Mary's roots are far from royal, with her Scottish parents working in academia. Her mother, Henrietta, served as the executive assistant at the University of Tasmania, while her father was a distinguished mathematics professor. The youngest of four siblings, Mary's sisters Jane (49) and Patricia (47), along with brother John Jr. (45), have largely kept to themselves since Mary's marriage to Prince Frederik in 2004.

2. Princess Mary is a champion of women's rights

Mary is dedicated to women's causes, most notably through her own charity, The Mary Foundation, established to address issues like bullying and domestic violence. She's also a Maternity Foundation patron, advocating for women's reproductive health.

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3. Princess Mary hails from academic heritage

Mary's father, Professor John Donaldson, was an accomplished mathematician with degrees from the University of Edinburgh, graduating with honours. He later became a lecturer and Dean at the University of Tasmania where he earned a PHD in mathematics, before travelling around institutions including Oxford as a visiting professor.

4. Pre-royal career in Scotland

Before becoming a royal, Mary worked as an Account Manager for Rapp Collins Worldwide in Edinburgh after her university studies. She also took on a role at Microsoft when she first moved to Denmark after meeting Prince Frederik.

5. Her mother never met Prince Frederik

Mary's mother, Henriette Donaldson, sadly passed away in 1997, before she met her future husband, Prince Frederick, in 2000.

In 2013, Princess Mary spoke of the loss to the Australian Women's Weekly: "I’m sure she would be very happy to see me where I am, not only happy in my family life and as a mother, but also to see that I’ve used my new situation and the resources and skills I have to form a platform to make a difference where I can."

6. Princess Mary speaks fluent Danish

Mary tackled the challenging Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001, underscoring her dedication to embracing Danish culture, particularly since Danish is a notoriously difficult language to master. Learning the language quickly, she won the hearts of the Danish people.

7. She carried a symbolic wedding bouquet

Mary's wedding bouquet blended Australian snow gum eucalyptus with Palace garden blooms, reflecting her Australian heritage.

8. Mary undertook extensive training to become a royal

Mary's preparation for queen-hood began early, mere weeks after she first met Prince Frederik, including a six-week course on public presence and adapting her style with Danish stylist Anja Camilla Alajdi, along with extensive lessons to become acquainted with the culture, history and political landscape of Denmark.

9. Mary and Frederik's first conversation was somewhat unconventional

The couple's first meeting included discussions on male chest hair (Frederik, supposedly had none), bonding over horses and fitness, setting the stage for their unique fairytale romance.

10. Princess Mary wears a Danish flag-inspired ring

Mary's engagement ring features an emerald-cut and ruby design, mirroring the colours of the Danish flag, a symbol of her new connection to Denmark.

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