Fashion

From Australian girl to international royal: Crown Princess Mary’s style evolution in pictures

It's been a true fashion journey for the girl from Tasmania.
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Princess Mary is undeniably a fashion icon. But prior to her royal connections, she was just a normal girl…

It was the year 2000, and Mary Donaldson was working as a real estate agent in Tasmania.

But in an amazing turn of events (that would normally be reserved only for fictional fairytales), Mary became a real-life Princess.

It’s a love story we’ll never tire of: The 28-year-old was at Sydney’s Slip Inn pub during the 2000 Olympics. And Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark just so happened to be there.

The pair started chatting and instantly hit it off. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Danish royal couple have been together since 2000.

Now a European princess, Mary had to learn a lot about royal protocol when she wed into the Danish monarchy, and appropriate clothing was a big part of it.

Through the years we’ve seen a big change in the Tasmanian local’s style, but she’s taken it all in her stride.

She swapped loose denim jeans for tailored trousers and has built an incredible collection of frocks and evening gowns in the decades since she became a royal – and we can’t get enough of her style.

Here, we round up the the fashion evolution of Crown Princess Mary as she transformed into a stylish royal Princess over the years… read right till the end to find her latest looks.

01

November 2002, Melbourne

From square-shaped sunnies to the semi-transparent hat, this look captures true early 00’s style.

02

October 2003, Denmark

Did you even live in 2003 if you didn’t wear a satin dress to a formal occasion?

03

January 2004, Copenhagen

Another day, another satin gown for the Princess!

04

May 2004, Copenhagen

The year was 2004 and Mary was seriously on trend with this blazer, jeans and stiletto combo.

05

May 2004, Copenhagen

Jacket? Tick. Dress? Tick. Hat? Tick!

06

May 2004, Copenhagen

Crown Princess Mary, who was weeks out from her wedding at this stage, absolutely stunned in this ravishing red ensemble.

07

May 2004, Christiansborg

We’ve noticed Mary is partial to an all-beige palette, but this time it took a slightly warmer turn into orange territory.

08

May 2004, Copenhagen

The Aussie-born princess marries her real-life Prince Charming and the whole world swooned.

09

February 2005, Sydney

Back on home soil, the Princess clearly felt comfortable to casual things up.

10

February 2005, Sydney

The boardies are back and we can’t fault her for staying true to her origins.

11

March 2005, Sydney

It’s pink and black, it’s satin, it’s floor-length and it’s utterly chic.

12

March 2005, Sydney

Again with the satin, we almost need some sunnies just to get through this gallery.

13

May 2008, Iceland

An interesting print broken up with a (highly necessary) fur trimmed jacket.

14

March 2009, New York

Again, the Princess can’t help but risk a bold print!

15

October 2012, Luxembourg

This hat and dress combo ticks all the boxes.

16

June 2014, Luzech

This stunning emerald gown gives us all the holiday vibes.

17

May 2015, Germany

By this stage, Mary is simply oozing style.

18

August 2017, Copenhagen

Pictured walking with her two daughters, the Princess looks radiant.

19

September 2017, Copenhagen

This soft one-shoulder style looks stunning on the Princess.

20

August 2018, Copenhagen

From board shorts to this stunning red dress, there’s no denying it: Princess Mary has officially nailed royal style.

21

December 2018, Latvia

Princess Mary ended 2018 by debuting a brand new up-do hair style while attending an official dinner. Styled with a burgundy coat, the brunette couldn’t have looked more chic!

22

February 2019, Denmark

Princess perfect! This stunning picture of the Danish Princess was released for her 47th birthday on February 5th – and we can’t stop staring.

23

March 2019, Texas

While on an official royal visit to Texas, Crown Princess Mary wore a trendy green and black tartan coat – not unlike similar tartan styles worn by Meghan Markle and Princess Catherine in the past!

24

The royal paired the jacket with a black jumper and trousers, as well as a striking long pendant necklace.

25

June 2019, Denmark

Mary wore this gorgeous floral headpiece in June at the celebrations of the 800 year anniversary of the Danish flag in Vordingborg, Denmark. We’re filing this picture away for inspiration when the Spring Racing Carnival rolls around!

26

Mary and Frederik looked adorable on their couple’s day out.

27

And just one more pic to show you Mary’s gorgeous matching red shoes, featuring that stunning unusual white piping detail on the heel – just the perfect accessory.

28

August 2019, Denmark

The future Danish queen isn’t afraid to re-wear clothes, including this stunning orange H&M frock.

29

September 2019, Norway

She may be a Danish royal but Mary honoured her Aussie roots with this stunning Zimmerman dress at the confirmation ceremony of Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

30

October 2019, Denmark

Jackie Kennedy reborn! The Crown Princess channelled sixties chic at the official opening of the Danish Parliament.

31

October 2019, Paris

Parisian perfection! Crown Princess Mary kicked off a three-day tour of Paris in October 2019 wearing this gorgeous blue and white midi dress.

32

She followed up a stunning start to the Parisian tour by wearing a gorgeous polka dot number later that evening. Frederik couldn’t keep his eyes off her!

33

On day two, Mary looked elegant in this beautiful white long-sleeved frock.

34

And a few hours later, her evening look knocked it out of the park once again – we’re obsessed with this cap-sleeved blue embroidered gown!

35

To wrap up the whirlwind tour, Mary wore one of the world’s most iconic textured fabrics in the most appropriate place – Chanel-esque tweed, which was born and bred in Paris!

36

February 2020, Denmark

Princess Mary turned 48 and proved that as well as being royal, she’s also ageless.

37

March 2020, Denmark

The Crown Princess looked incredible in this chic pant suit – with a red coat twist! Attending a launch with The Mary Foundation, the Danish royal turned heads as she was snapped entering the event.

38

March 2020, Denmark

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Princess Mary stayed connected with her fans on social media, providing an insight into how she and her family were coping in lockdown. She shared this lovely family portrait with Frederik and their four children on the official Danish royal family’s Instagram account.

And even though she kept things casual at home, Mary still looked incredibly stylish in this chic knit and jeans outfit – she even matched her boots to her jumper!

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39

April 2020, Denmark

Mary shared this rare photo from inside the Danish Palace, revealing her working from home set up during lockdown. She was attending a virtual board meeting of her charity organisation The Mary Foundation, wearing a sweet neutral sweater and minimal makeup.

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40

June 2020, Denmark

Mary donned a sleek a-line dress for the opening of an art exhibition celebrating Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in June, 2020. Featuring a belted waist, button-up neckline and demure short sleeves, Mary looked radiant in the cream Belulah style, which she paired with matching pumps and a contrasting clutch.

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41

August 2020, Denmark

For an August engagement by the sea, the princess wore the classic combination of a black skirt and white blouse. She mixed it up by wearing a shirt with small puff sleeves and a delicate pattern across it, opting for black wedge sandals over her usual closed-toe pumps.

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42

September 2020, Denmark

Mary kept it low-key for the official inauguration of the Australian War Monument on September 17, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Styling her hair into a sleek up-do, the future queen paired a tailored black blazer with a patterned Ralph Lauren dress and her signature nude heels.

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43

September 2020, Denmark

Mary’s chic blazer was a crowd favourite, as it was an elevated version of the classic staple. The Max Mara style features a mock neck and zipper closure, and Mary added a smart black and gold belt to create extra definition at her waist.

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44

April 2021, Denmark

The Crown Princess donned this chic tailored pantsuit for a visit to the UNFPA State Of World Population Report Release in April, 2021 in Denmark. She paired her menswear-inspired ensemble with grey point-toe pumps, a long necklace and – of course – a face mask to complete her look.

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45

April 2021, Denmark

Mary also donned a co-ordinating scarf during her visit and was presented with a blush pink bouquet of flowers that added the perfect pop of colour to her monochromatic look.

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46

May 2021, Denmark

Mary went all-out for her son, Prince Christian‘s confirmation in May, donning a chic Iris and Ink satin polka dot dress and matching navy fascinator. She completed the look with a pair of nude, point-toe pumps, which really are her staple shoe.

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47

May 2021, Denmark

The proud mum made sure her outfit complimented her son’s navy suit on his important day, and Prince Christian even wore a polka dot tie that matched Mary’s dress. The Crown Princess also wore a family heirloom brooch known as the Connaught sapphire brooch, which has been in the Danish royal family since the 1870s.

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48

June 2021, Denmark

Mary showed us the power of a monochromatic look at a UEFA EURO 2020 match between Denmark and Finland in June. Pairing a red Hugo Boss blouse with a pair of slacks in the same shade and a matching bag, Mary set off the all-red look with a chic cream coat.

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49

June 2021, Denmark

For a second soccer match in June, Mary flipped her look, opting for a casual white dress and luxe Alexander McQueen blazer, topping it off with a brown bag by Chloe. She tied the look together with simple brown accessories, including a thin belt and heeled sandals.

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50

July 2021, UK

Mary recycled her red blazer for a soccer match at Wembley stadium in London in July, pairing it this time with a white blouse and smart black trousers.

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51

September 2021, Denmark

Mary stunned in this $265 H&M Conscious dress she had tailored into a skirt. The future queen styled the midi length piece with an off-the-shoulder black top and a pair of $1,225 mesh panelled pumps from Gianvito Rossi.

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52

September 2021, Milan

At a Milan Design Week event where she unveiled her own sustainably made portrait, Mary donned this blush pink Marc Jacobs dress and snakeskin heels.

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53

September 2021, Milan

For a roundtable meeting at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Mary looked youthful and chic in this Carolina Herrera polka dot silk shirt dress.

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54

January 2022, Denmark

After a short bout of COVID-19, the princess was back in style for her first royal engagement of 2022, opting for a monochrome outfit with a Gabriela Hearst frock and matching Oscar de la Renta cape.

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55

January 2022, Denmark

Mary was the picture of casual elegance in this all-white outfit as she sat for a portrait ahead of her 50th birthday in 2022.

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56

January 2022, Denmark

The Australian-born royal looked every bit a princess in this divine embellished Lasse Spangenberg gown for a series of official birthday portraits.

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57

January 2022, Denmark

The details on her dress, jewellery and tiara – which is Queen Ingrid’s Ruby Parure – were even more gorgeous up close.

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58

January 2022, Denmark

A vocal supporter of sustainable fashion, Mary recycled this embellished pink Claes Iversen coat for an outing to open the exhibition “Mary and the Crown Princesses” before her birthday in 2022.

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59

February 2022, Denmark

She can certainly pull off a suit too – this purple velvet Temperley London set went perfectly with her subtle jewels.

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60

February 2022, Denmark

What a fashionable reunion! Mary donned an all-black outfit with a chic contrasting white coat (which she’s been spotted in before) as she met up with Catherine, Princess of Wales in Copenhagen.

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61

February 2022, Denmark

Here Mary poses wearing the traditional Greenlandic national costume in honour of her connection to the nation.

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62

March 2022, Denmark

Hard at work for the Mary Foundation, the princess gave a masterclass in elegance with this green number by Danish designer Søren Le Schmidt.

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63

March 2022, Denmark

From the cosy CO blouse, to the printed Valentino skirt and knee-high Aquazzura stiletto boots, this was an outfit that cemented Mary’s status as a style icon in 2022.

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64

August 2022, Denmark

Princess Mary caught all eyes on the Odense Flower Festival red carpet in this purple and white floral midi dress from Erdem. With gold accessories and her hair flowing free, the royal owned this elegant look.

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65

August 2022, Denmark

We love a relatable princess! Mary wore this chic coral suit from Scanlan Theodore with a pair of casual sneakers as she headed to the Presentation of the Ministry of Education and Research’s National Teaching Award. She then changed into a set of nude python pumps by Gianvito Rossi for the event.

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66

September 2022, Denmark

For Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Gala Mary rewore this divine gown by Lasse Spangenberg, accessorising with the iconic Cartier ‘Love’ yelloq gold bracelet. She also donned the Ruby & Spinel necklace and tiara for the elegant occasion.

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67

September 2022, Denmark

Princess Mary made one of her most elegant appearances of the year at Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner in an upcycled Jesper Høvring dress, adding an elegant new layer of black lace. She paired it with the Danish Ruby Parure Tiara and matching necklace for a truly regal effect.

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68

September 2022, New York

Jetting to the US for a rare visit, Princess Mary paired a sleek black blazer with a printed dress from Jonathan Simkhai as she visited Scandinavia House in New York. She added a touch of edge to the frock with a pair of Rockstud Green Leather Pumps by Valentino.

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69

September 2022, Denmark

Mary donned this vibrant pink gown for a special royal event at Christiansborg Castle with her husband, Prince Frederik. The stunning David Andersen gown was a recycled style statement, as Mary previously wore it to a gala dinner honouring Denmark’s Armed Forces in September 2017. She also accessorised with the same tiara she wore on her wedding day.

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70

November 2022, Zanzibar

Princess Mary looked casual but classy during a visit to Zanzibar in November 2022. Opting for a previously worn sage wrap skirt with a tucked in white blouse and metallic gold sandals, the royal glowed as she attended a commission meeting.

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71

April 2023, Milan

The 51-year-old looked elegant in a white and blue pleated skirt and long black sleeve shirt as she attended the 2023 Milan Design Week.

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72

April 2023, Fiji

Mary wore a beautiful and bright – but also tasteful – dress when she met with Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere and his wife.

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73

May 2023, England

Princess Mary was a vision in purple at the coronation of King Charles III.

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74

October 2023, New York

Princess Mary kicked off a three-day tour in the US by attending a reception at the Danish UN Mission in New York. While there, she delivered a speech emphasising how Denmark is helping to raise awareness of the consequences of climate change, and looked fabulous while doing so in a floral midi dress from ba&sh.

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