An apprenticeship spanning more than two decades comes to an end for Hobart-born Mary Donaldson, as she becomes Queen of Denmark. The path to her succession to the throne on Sunday alongside husband Crown Prince Frederik can be traced to the couple’s introduction at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics. He will become King Frederik X of Denmark, two weeks after his mother — 83-year-old Queen Margrethe — announced she would be the first Danish royal to abdicate in some 900 years.
Health issues made her reconsider after she underwent major back surgery in February and did not return to work until April. In her speech, she said the surgery prompted “thoughts about the future” and when to pass on the responsibilities of the crown. The prime minister was unaware of the queen’s intentions until just before the announcement. While the monarch’s powers were once absolute, today the royal family’s duties are largely ceremonial and defined by the constitution.