Denmark's future queen is a picture of royal elegance in her first official portrait. Crown Princess Mary is shown in a moment of reflection in the newly-unveiled work, which was painted by her fellow-Australian Ralph Heimans.
"In a way the painting represents the crown princess on the brink between the old life and the new," explained the artist. "She is about to leave the palace and is standing there reflecting as she heads into the public realm. The viewer is invited to imagine what she might be thinking."
The 35-year-old, who started work on the giant canvas last May, decided it would be most fitting to depict his subject without the trappings of her new position. "It's very different to other royal portraits," he said. "There's no tiara or sash and she's just really young and fresh. It's her as she is in real life."
The picture shows her gazing out the window of the Garden Room in Frederikborg Castle, where her engagement was first announced. Recalling his sittings with the mum-of-one, the painter said they had an easy rapport because of their shared nationality. "She was so warm and easygoing," he revealed.
Ralph isn't the only antipodean who's made the long journey from Australia to meet the princess, however. Copenhagen Zoo is now home to a group of Tasmanian devils, after Tasmanian tourism minister Paula Wriedt kept her promise to send four of the creatures to Denmark as a christening gift for the couple's baby son Christian.
Mary and Frederik both went along to welcome the arrivals to their new homeland on Monday. "They really have expressed great delight," said the visiting diplomat. "I know Princess Mary said they're looking forward to their son growing older and being able to bring him to the zoo and have him visit those little devils."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
