This extraordinary journey from Tasmania to the Danish throne reached its final stage on New Year's Eve with the unpredicted retirement announcement of Queen Margrethe II. She revealed her decision to step down on January 14, surfacing the way for Mary's ascension.

Denmark, known for its tradition and historical significance, rarely witnesses such abdications. In fact, the last time a monarch gave up the crown was in 1146, when King Eric III renounced his title to pursue a monastic life, as reported by the Royal House. 

Margrethe's firstborn child, Crown Prince Frederik, is set to ascend to the throne, with his wife, Crown Princess Mary, becoming the first Australian to hold the title of Queen. This significant development has brought immense joy to her supporters in Australia.

For many of Mary's admirers from her homeland, this is a perfect conclusion to a highly-publicized love story that began in a lively Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics.

According to the tale, the two first laid eyes on each other in the unlikely setting of Slip Inn, a place where one wouldn't typically expect to find a member of Danish royalty, let alone the origins of a couple who would eventually become Denmark's future monarchs. 

In 2004, millions witnessed the wedding of the couple. Now, twenty years later, their journey to the throne is set to captivate international audiences, from Copenhagen all the way to Hobart, where Mary was born.

On Monday, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff expressed his pride in Crown Princess Mary through a statement. He commended her for her humility, grace, and kindness and expressed his belief that she will be embraced as Queen alongside her husband, King Frederik, once announced later this month.

Rockliff eagerly anticipated the leadership of the next generation and expressed his excitement for Tasmania's very own Queen to guide Denmark's future. 

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Story

When the 51-year-old Mary first met Frederik 23 years ago in a crowded city pub, she was working as an advertising executive and had no clue that the charming European tourist she had been conversing with for hours would turn out to be the future king of Denmark.

Fast forward to today, the couple has been happily married for 19 years and are proud parents to four children. Mary has not only won the hearts of the Danish people with her unwavering commitment to royal duty, but also impressed them with her fluency in their language.

Over the years, gossip magazines in both Denmark and Australia have speculated about the state of their marriage, but there is no solid evidence to suggest that they are anything other than blissfully wedded. 

Recently, the couple's relationship came under scrutiny when pictures surfaced of Frederik, 55, enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid back in October. However, despite rumors of a possible affair, Frederik and Mary displayed their unity as they entered Aarhus cathedral on Christmas Eve. 

Mary Donaldson was introduced to Frederik, the Prince of Denmark, when she was 28 years old at the Slip Inn in Sydney, 23 years ago. Upon their initial meeting, Fred, who was 32 at the time and in Australia for the 2000 Olympics to support Denmark's sailing team, asked Mary for her phone number, sparking a romance between the two.

In an interview, Mary said that she had initially shaken hands with Frederik without knowing he was the prince of Denmark, but soon after, someone informed her about his royal status. Despite the geographical distance between them, they managed to maintain their relationship for a year, with Frederik making secretive trips to visit Mary in Australia.

Eventually, Mary relocated to Denmark in 2001 to study the Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen. By early 2003, their relationship had become public knowledge, with Queen Margrethe, Frederik's mother, publicly acknowledging their connection. Later that same year, on October 8th, the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle. 

Crown Princess Mary and Frederik tied the knot at Copenhagen Cathedral on May 14, 2004. Mary looked stunning in a dress designed by Uffer Frank, paired with a veil used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905.

To honor her Australian heritage, Mary carried a bouquet of Australian snow gum eucalyptus mixed with flowers from the Palace garden.

During the ceremony, Frederik declared, "From today, Mary is mine and I am hers. I love her, and I will protect her with all my love."

Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, arrived on October 15, 2005, followed by Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe on April 21, 2007.

In 2007, Princess Mary established The Mary Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to combating domestic violence, bullying, and loneliness.

Nearly four years later, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander were born at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011.