Princess Mary can now act as Queen of Denmark as regent for Danish royal Margrethe

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is one step closer to becoming the first Australian-born queen after a historic move by Queen Margrethe.

Mary, who was born in Tasmania and met her husband Prince Frederik at a pub in Sydney, has been made a regent, meaning she can perform duties as head of state when Margrethe is otherwise engaged.

The Danish queen, 79, is gradually handing over the reins to other members of the royal family, and Frederik, his brother Prince Joachim, and the Queen’s sister Princess Benedikte are also official stand-ins for the monarch. 

Mary, 47, will become Queen of Denmark when Frederik ascends to the throne, following the death or abdication of his mother.

The Danish palace released a photo showing the signing ceremony attended by Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe

Tasmanian-born Mary joins her husband Prince Frederik (pictured together in Stockholm in 2015) and royal relatives Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte as official stand-ins

‘As regent, The Crown Princess will, from now on, be able to attend to The Queen’s duties as head of state when The Queen is prevented from doing so, for example during a stay abroad,’ the Palace said on Thursday.

An Instagram photo accompanying the royal family’s statement shows Queen Margrethe signing an official declaration with Frederik and Mary. 

Mary Donaldson, then a 28-year-old advertising executive, met Frederik at Sydney pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics, with the royal introducing himself as ‘Fred’.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for one year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under, before Mary moved to Denmark.

The couple announced their engagement on October 8, 2003.

They married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral and went on to welcome four children, Prince Christian, 13, Princess Isabella, 12, and eight-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.  

Princess Mary and Prince Frederik have four children, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, Prince Vincent and Prince Christian

Plain sailing: The royal couple went public with their relationship at a yacht race in Australia in 2001

The 47-year-old Princess looked radiant in a Claes Iversen coat dress in Copenhagen earlier this week for the official opening of the Danish parliament’s new term

Earlier this week, Princess Mary joined Queen Margrethe and Prince Frederik at Christiansborg Palace to mark the beginning of the Danish parliamentary year.

Fresh from a family holiday with her husband and their four children, Mary looked every inch a royal in a dusty pink coat dress from Dutch designer Claes Iversen.

Renowned for her taste in affordable fashion and penchant for re-wearing designer pieces, the stylish Princess last wore the elegant ensemble in December last year during a state visit to the Latvian capital of Riga.

Mary finished the look with a matching pillbox hat and burgundy point-toe stilettos.

Showing her respect for her mother-in-law, Mary curtsied as she greeted Margrethe on the steps of parliament.

The queen then affectionately held her daughter-in-law as they kissed on the cheek while Frederik look on.

Both royal women were given beautiful bouquets of orange and pink hued seasonal blooms.

Mary put on a sweet display of affection with Queen Margrethe (left, in the purple hat) outside the Danish parliament, with both women carrying beautiful bouquets of seasonal flowers