Crown Princess Mary of Denmark celebrates her 43rd birthday on 5 February. The popular royal, who was recently announced as "Denmark's Most Admired Woman" in a YouGov poll, is expected to mark the occasion surrounded by her husband, Crown Prince Frederik and their four children. To honour Mary's birthday, HELLO! Online presents ten facts you may not have known about the Danish princess...
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Mary and Prince Frederik at Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden's wedding
1. Mary was born on 5 February 1972, in Hobart, Tasmania, as the youngest child of Scottish-born maths professor John Donaldson and university secretary Henrietta Clark Donaldson. 2. The future queen consort of Denmark explained that she was unaware of who Prince Frederik was when they first met as he introduced himself as just "Fred" at a Sydney pub in October 2000. "The first time we met we shook hands," she recalled. "I didn't know he was the Crown Prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, 'Do you know who these people are?'."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe royal couple with their children (left to right) Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent
3. Three years later, on 8 October 2003, it was officially announced Frederik and Mary had become engaged and seven months later, on 14 May 2004, Mary captivated the world as she walked down the aisle in a stunning wedding dress by Danish designer Uffe Frank. 4. Speaking to the press shortly after the engagement Mary won many fans after speaking in Danish, which she had been learning since meeting Frederik. 5. Mary and Frederik share their wedding anniversary with Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia who married on 14 May 1962.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Mary and Prince Frederik on their wedding day on 14 May 2004
6. Many have noted Mary's similarity to the Duchess of Cambridge, which led Chanel director Karl Lagerfeld to dub them "royal sisters". Speaking days before Kate's marriage to Prince William, he said: "Kate is like a younger sister to Mary, who is both beautiful and elegant." The Danish couple have become close friends with Prince William and Kate after joining forces for a UNICEF engagement in Denmark in November 2011. Shortly after the birth of Prince George, a spokesman for Mary and Frederik confirmed the couple had made a "private" call to congratulate the couple.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMary has been likened to the Duchess of Cambridge
7. In October 2005, Mary welcomed her and Frederik’s first child, Prince Christian, who is second-in-line to the Danish throne. Two years later in April 2007, Princess Isabella was born and then in 2011 the couple had double joy as Mary gave birth to twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. 8. The future queen of Denmark has championed many causes close to her heart and currently supports a wide variety of organisations including the Danish fashion industry, humanitarian aid and many children's charities.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMary at the christening of her goddaughter Princess Estelle of Sweden
9. Mary is godmother to her nephew, Prince Henrik of Denmark and Sweden’s Princess Estelle. 10. The elegant royal's official title is 'Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat'.
