For most of her marriage, Princess Mary has been all too aware of her position in the pecking order at Amalienborg Palace.
Despite being the favourite royal among Danes, the dazzling Aussie has always respectfully stood to the side to allow full focus on her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, and husband, Prince Frederik.
But for one night only – the occasion of her 50th birthday on February 5 – the family had planned a show-stopping celebration of the jewel in their crown to honour both Mary’s milestone year and tireless dedication to the crown in the past 18 years.
“Frederik and his mother, together with Mary’s kids, had been working for months to plan an amazing gala dinner for her 50th,” a source tells Woman’s Day.
Princess Mary out and about with Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe.
(Image: Getty)“They planned an epic degustation menu, music, dancing, and Fred had already put the finishing touches on a beautiful speech.”
Hundreds of guests, including European royalty, Mary’s Aussie siblings and her Scotland-based dad were due to fly into Copenhagen for the glamorous event within the historic Rosenborg Castle.
But it was not to be, thanks to a spike in COVID cases in the Scandinavian country.
Amalienborg Palace confirmed recently that the show would not be able to go on, insisting it would be “extremely difficult to implement” safety measures for a gathering of this size.
Our sources say Mary, who recently survived a bout of COVID herself, “is hugely disappointed they’ve had to cancel”.
“The Crown Princess was very excited about her special day,” a palace source tells us.
“She was most looking forward to any surprises her husband had planned for her.
“She had thrown him the best birthday party ever for his 50th a few years ago, and he promised her this would be even better.”
WATCH: Relive Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik’s wedding day. Story continues after video.
Indeed, Mary had friends and family reaching for their hankies when she made a speech in Fred’s honour in 2018.
“Mary was hoping he would do the same for her, but now she’ll have to wait until they can safely gather again,” says the source.
Not helping Mary’s melancholy over her cancelled birthday is the fact that her sister-in-law, Princess Marie, has returned with her husband Prince Joachim to Copenhagen from their new home in Paris.
“Marie and Mary do not get on, and even though they now live in separate cities, it hasn’t done anything to soothe the tension between them,” says a source.
Princess Marie and her husband Prince Joachim with the Crown Prince couple.
(Image: Getty)“Now they’ve been thrown back together and are being forced to play nice in front of the cameras as they celebrate Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee.
“Marie seems to always try to copy and overshadow Mary, which is seen as disrespectful given one day she will be queen.
“It’s the last thing Mary needs, given she’s so sad that her party has been cancelled and she won’t see her family for more time still.
“Fred knows her true feelings and has made sure to keep Marie away from his wife, even making sure they weren’t sitting together at a family banquet with the queen.
“It’s been very awkward for them all to have Marie back in the fold.”
