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Danish prince to wed Aussie love

Thousands of people have gathered in the streets of Copenhagen as Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik prepares to marry his Australian fiancee.

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, a 32-year-old law graduate and former estate agent, will become Australia's first European princess in a reigning monarchy.

Tight security is in force in the capital, with police standing guard on the route to Copenhagen's cathedral.

The wedding ceremony will be attended by dignitaries from around the world.

Denmark has been celebrating the wedding for more than a week, with a military parade, a banquet for Danish dignitaries as well as more casual events such as boat races and rock concerts.

The streets of the capital, Copenhagen, are bedecked with Danish and Australian flags, while portraits of the couple are hanging in shop windows.

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.

Most of Denmark's 5.4 million people will be watching on television when the couple exchange vows at the Vor Frue Kirke cathedral.

The ceremony will begin at 1600 local time (1400 GMT).

Posted by thinkum at May 14, 2004 09:38 AM