Australia made a huge mistake allowing Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson to leave our shores, if her new Vogue Australia cover story is anything to go by.
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Since marrying a Danish Prince 12 years ago, the 44-year-old mother of four is now one of the world's most pre-eminent voices for gender equality and social change.
For her 2004 wedding she received a gift of 1 million Danish krone ($196,000). While most newlyweds put the contents of their wishing wells toward a holiday or new house, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (who's wing of Amalienborg Palace was renovated in 2009 anyway) established The Mary Foundation. An initiative that focuses on community and reconnecting the isolated.
"Domestic violence, bullying and loneliness, they are our three focus areas," she said. "Those three areas were chosen because they all have links to social isolation and many of them are very taboo or overlooked. The abused woman, the bullied child and the lonely adolescent feel very, very alone in the world with their problems and will often never share them."
For years her fashion choices and close friendship with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have grabbed headlines, now the Crown Princess is morphing into the Princess Diana of the north for her social activism. Interestingly Mary is particularly outspoken about issues that don't receive a great deal of government recognition or support in her birth country.
She headlined this year's International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – a European event sponsored by the Danish government – and stated her belief in LGBTI equality.
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. But that assertion, for far too many around the world, does not hold true," she said.
"Even though we write 2016, too many LGBTI people continue to be victims of hatred, violence, discrimination, bullying and ill-treatment, and this we cannot and must not accept. Working together to change social attitudes and promote equal opportunities requires a broad and mutual effort by all of us."
It is necessary, she added, to "build a culture where everyone is accepted and tolerated for who they are and where everyone can participate equally, fully and freely in all aspects of society."
Following her strong remarks, a rarity from high-profile royals, she opened the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen, the largest global gathering in more than a decade to focus on the health and wellbeing of women and girls.
The 6000 strong crowd, all specialists in medicine, research and academia were reportedly captivated by her knowledge and passion for women's rights and gender equality. It was, according to attendee and Australia's Ambassador for Women and Children Natasha Stott Despoja, Mary's "most significant platform to date".
This is her second interview with Vogue Australia and the first time the family have been photographed by esteemed fashion and royal photographer Mario Testino for an Australian publication.
The corresponding photo essay of Mary and Frederik includes the young royals, future King Christian, 10, Isabella, 9, and twins Josephine and Vincent, 5, who posed with their parents in the cosy, or hyggelig as they say in Denmark, surrounds of their kitchen alongside toys, breakfast dishes and fresh flowers.
The new issue of Vogue Australia goes on sale, Monday, July 11.
