Princess Mary launches new Australian animal exhibit with her children at Copenhagen Zoo

Crown Princess Mary has attended two events in Copenhagen in honour of her 50th birthday this week, bringing along husband Crown Prince Frederik and two of their children for the special occasions.

Mary was joined by her twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 11, at the Copenhagen Zoo, where a new facility dedicated to Australian animals was launched.

Mary's Australian Garden will see the construction of a new aviary and welcome animals native to her former homeland.

READ MORE: New portraits of Crown Princess Mary shared for her 50th birthday

It will expand upon the zoo's existing facilities for kangaroos and Tasmanian devils, which have called the zoo home for years now.

In 2006, Copenhagen Zoo — of which Mary is patron — was given four devils from Tasmania to mark the baptism of Prince Christian.

It is the first zoo outside of Australia to keep the animals and in 2013 the zoo successfully bred a pair, believed to be the first time a Tasmanian devil has given birth to a pup outside of Australia.

Mary's children were given the honour of turning the first soil for the expansion project, which is expected to be completed in the coming years.

They also stopped by the penguin enclosure where Mary, Vincent and Josephine took turns feeding the hungry animals.

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Despite the snowy conditions, Mary and her children sat outside and handed over herring to the penguins.

They then braved visited the reptile room where they were able to hold a python.

In the afternoon Princess Mary was joined by Crown Prince Frederik to open a new science center at the Copenhagen University.

It has been named The Crown Princess Mary Center - solving problems through research and partnerships.

Mary will sit on the advisory committee and its objective is to build up an interdisciplinary knowledge environment focused on finding new solutions for current societal challenges, with the human being at the core.

The two events on Wednesday are part of a week-long schedule of festivities celebrating Crown Princess Mary's birthday.

She will turn 50 on Saturday February 5.

READ MORE: Princess Mary opens new exhibition about her life with Prince Frederik

Tomorrow, Mary will open a new exhibition about her life, 'HRH Crown Princess Mary 1972 - 2022', at the National History Museum inside Frederiksborg Castle, north of Copenhagen.

A planned gala dinner at Rosenborg Castle on Friday has been cancelled, due to ongoing concerns around the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, Mary was the guest of honour at the opening of a new exhibition that looks at her role as Denmark's Crown Princess and future Queen Consort.

Mary and Prince Frederik toured the exhibition at the Koldinghus Museum, looking at some of the gowns and jewels worn by the Crown Princess over the years.

The day before, a series of new portraits of Crown Princess Mary were unveiled by the palace.