Queen Mary of Denmark faces loyalty test as she sneaks away to see Team Australia before opening ceremony
Queen Mary of Denmark is once again facing a loyalty test, with the Australian-born royal attending Paris 2024 in an official capacity on behalf of the European nation she calls home – but also stopping by to express support for the green and gold.
The 52-year-old Danish royal, who was born in Tasmania but renounced her Australian citizenship to marry King Frederik X in 2004, was by her husband's side in the lead up to the opening ceremony on Friday ... except for when she snuck away to see Team Australia.
"Once an Aussie always an Aussie… and the Danish Queen. 👑," chef de mission Anna Meares wrote on Instagram alongside a photo with Mary.
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"Great to see Queen Mary in the food court for lunch today. I was a bit nervous but she wished our athletes well and I did invite her to our allotment for an Aussie coffee," Meares continued.
Anna Meares posed with Queen Mary of Denmark in the village ahead of the opening ceremony. Instagram/Anna Meares
In photos shared by the Australian Olympic Team's official Instagram account, Mary was seen posing with members of the Australian delegation in the village.
"Royalty in the Village! Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark joined athletes in the Olympic Village," read the caption.
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It's not the first time Mary's faced a test of allegiance between her former homeland and the country she leads, with the Australian-born royal being forced to pick a side when Australia faced off against Denmark at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Years earlier, at Rio 2016, Mary actually commented when she was asked to pick a side, telling an Australian journalist at the time: "I'm looking forward to following not just the Danish athletes [but everyone]."
All the best photos snapped at the highly-anticipated Paris 2024 opening ceremony
All the best photos snapped at the highly-anticipated Paris 2024 opening ceremony
The journalist asked: "Will there be a little bit of support for the Australian athletes?"
"Absolutely, yes," she replied, before adding: "So long as they're not competing against a Dane".
This is the first time, however, Mary is attending the Olympics as Queen of Denmark – she made history earlier this year when she ascended the throne.
