Queen Mary of Denmark has revealed her favourite Australian trait as she and King Frederik X wrapped up their royal tour of Down Under.
The Tasmania-born Queen, 54, delivered a heartwarming speech at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens on Wednesday, while hosting a reception to thank Aussies for their hospitality over the six-day trip.
During her speech, Mary discussed her Australian roots and what she loves most about Aussie people.
“It touches me deeply that my family and I are always welcomed with such warmth and interest, and that we continue to have a place in the hearts and minds of Australians,” she said.
“Being remembered is nothing ever to be taken for granted, and it is an endearing Australian trait that when an Australian is considered to do well abroad, you take pride in the fact that they are one of your own.
“And forever on, they will be known as ‘Our [insert name here]’,” she added, prompting a laugh from the crowd.
Aussies on social media have agreed with Mary’s sentiment, with many concurring that she is indeed “Our Mary”.
“Our Australian Queen,” one fan wrote on Instagram, as another echoed: “Beautiful warm and lovely speech. We do love our Mary.”
“A woman with such confidence while also so warm of nature. She’s a brilliant ambassador for both countries,” a third person said.
Meanwhile, a fourth Instagrammer said King Frederik was also an “honorary Aussie”, writing: “We also adopt your family as ours.”
During their six-day tour of Australia, the Danish royals visited Uluru, Canberra, Melbourne, and Mary’s hometown of Hobart.
King Frederik, 57, said he has a “special place” in his heart for Australia, especially because it is where he and Mary met and fell in love more than two decades ago.
Frederik met his future wife in Sydney’s Slip Inn pub back in 2000, where he says they “got lost in a conversation that has never ended”.
“Australia is our second home. Whether we come here for a family visit or a State Visit, we feel both excited and entirely at ease,” he said at a state banquet on Sunday.
He even described Australia as his “second home” and admitted he had embraced “everything Australian”, including cricket and AFL.
Queen Mary was born and raised in Hobart before moving to Melbourne and Sydney to begin a career in advertising.
After meeting Frederik during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Mary moved to Denmark and they got married in 2004.
They share four children: Prince Christian, 20, Princess Isabella, 18, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine, 15.