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Passerbys in the Sydney CBD have described how they happened to stumble upon the Crown Princess of Denmark hopping off a light rail, as the Lord Mayor reveals the mother-of-four was “very impressed” by the city’s transformation.
Princess Mary has arrived in Australia for her first official engagement in her homeland in over a decade.
The Hobart-born princess has just completed trips to Vanuatu and Fiji, where she raised awareness of the impacts of climate change in the Pacific.
The Princess had just cycled through the city’s bike paths from Hyde Park, before meeting with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore at Customs House.
Together, along with security guards and a delegation of Danish officials, they enjoyed a rail ride to Town Hall.
When Her Royal Highness emerged from the light rail on George Street, she was greeted by a crowd of journalists and photographers, all eagerly waiting her arrival.
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Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore took Crown Princess Mary of Denmark on a light rail ride to Town Hall on Friday before Her Royal Highness departed the CBD. Picture: John Grainger.
Judith and Mike, from New Zealand, happened to be walking through the CBD at the time, unaware the Princess on Denmark was just metres away.
“We just stumbled upon it,” Judith told SkyNews.com.au.
When she first saw the crowd, Judith said she was tempted to keep her distance.
But when she noticed the sheer number of photographers, she realised there had to be someone important stepping off the rail.
It was a serendipitous encounter for the duo, as Mike has Danish heritage on one side of his family with his great, great grandparents being from Denmark.
Judith and Mike were walking through the Sydney CBD at the time the Princess of Denmark hopped off the light rail at Town Hall. Picture: Sky News Australia.
It is Princess Mary’s first official trip Down Under in a decade, having last visited Sydney in 2013 to celebrate the Opera House’s 40th birthday with her husband Crown Prince Frederik.
The mother-of-four is currently touring the Pacific to highlight the impacts of climate change and promote a “green transition”.
She had earlier visited Fiji and Vanuatu before she arrived in Australia on Thursday.
Princess Mary was greeted at the light rail stop on George Street by a crowd of media. Picture: John Grainger.
Ms Moore spoke to SkyNews.com.au shortly after Princess Mary departed from the light rail stop.
“It’s been wonderful to have Princess Mary here today,” the Lord Mayor of Sydney said.
“It’s a beautiful Sydney day and she’s taken a bike ride down the newly-opened College Street bike lane and we travelled on the light rail together and had a really good talk about the changes that have occurred since she was here last.”
In 2005, Princess Mary visited Sydney and unveiled a statue of Danish fairytale author Hans Christen Anderson at Observatory Hill Park.
She made a leisurely trip to Australia over Christmas to visit family and her home town, Tasmania.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark enjoyed a ride on Sydney’s cycle paths earlier on Friday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper.
Ms Moore said Princess Mary was “very impressed” by the transformation she has seen in Sydney over the years.
“The bike lanes, the light rail, the tree planting… she was very, very impressed with this, and she was very interested that we’re now becoming the Copenhagen of the south with all the wonderful things they’ve been doing for decades, we’re now doing here and I think she’s very excited about that,” Ms Moore said.
She noted it was perfect weather for Her Royal Highness to go for a ride through the CBD.
“In Copenhagen they sit outdoors, grab their blankets with heaters, but here in Sydney we can sit outdoors in our lovely sunny weather,” Ms Moore said.
Her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Denmark last visited Sydney on an official trip 10 years ago. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper.
On Friday, Princess Mary was set to meet with Danish business representatives involved in the green transition of Australia and Danish-led projects related to sustainable construction and transportation.
“She’s really promoting action on addressing climate change, and that was the reason why we’ve done our bike lanes, not only is it a healthy alternative, but it’s bringing emissions down by providing a transport option for people that does not contribute to raising those emissions which we have with cars,” Ms Moore said.
The Princess of Denmark will make her next public appearance at King Charles’ coronation on May 6.
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