Queen Mary and King Frederik celebrate their love at the 2024 Olympics: 'Wonderful memories'

Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have shared a sweet behind-the-scenes snap from the Paris Olympics, in a subtle nod to how the two first met 24 years ago during the Sydney Olympics.

"Friendship, solidarity and fair play are the foundations of the Olympic spirit, which in the coming weeks gather nations from across the globe for the world's largest sporting and sporting event," they captioned the post.

"The strong community felt at the Olympic Games has always meant something special to both of us, just as experiencing the Olympic atmosphere together again evokes wonderful memories."

The couple's shared love for the Olympics is well-known after they met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, sparking a fairytale romance, with the two marrying in 2004 (and attending the Athens games shortly after) and going on to welcome four children together over the years.

Frederik's induction into the International Olympic Committee in 2009 further solidified their connection to the Games, and now, 24 years after meeting, they are enjoying it all again.

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Inside Queen Mary and King Frederik X's fairytale romance

The fairytale began during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, when Mary met Frederik at Sydney bar The Slip Inn, having no idea who the Crown Prince was.

Mary's friend Amber Petty, who was a bridesmaid at their wedding, later shed more light on the meeting, saying that it wasn't exactly locking eyes over the bar at a crowded pub moment — the two met as part of a small crowd at a private dinner party.

The Daily Mail reported that during a 2021 interview with Sunrise, Amber said the meeting was at a 'small' dinner during the Olympics, attended by a group of royals who were visiting Australia.

"I'm sorry to break everybody's hearts, but it's not always about randomly bumping into princes in pubs," she said.

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"It wasn't just a random meeting... it was an organised small dinner during the Olympics and Mary happened to be invited and most of the guests happened to be royals."

In 2001, just over a year after their initial meeting, Mary made the move to Paris and by 2002 she was calling Copenhagen home, immersing herself in Danish culture.

Their engagement was announced in 2003, and they exchanged vows at Copenhagen Cathedral the following year, on May 14. They're now the proud parents of four children; Prince Christian, 18 years old and heir to the throne, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.

Frederik officially stepped into the role as King of Denmark this year, after Queen Margrethe II abdicated in January 2024.

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