Next stop? Frederik, Mary & Christian leave Tasmania

Crown Princess Mary carries her son Prince Christian across the tarmac to her plane out of Hobart yesterday.

Media reports this afternoon Australian time are that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary with Prince Christian have left Tasmania.

The Hobart Mercury
Mary's no-fuss flight out

LINDA SMITH
November 29, 2006 12:00am

CROWN Princess Mary has farewelled Tasmania after a six-day visit to the state with a low-key departure from Hobart Airport yesterday.
The Tasmanian-born Princess and her 13-month-old son Prince Christian left just before 3pm yesterday aboard a Jetstar flight bound for Melbourne, while Crown Prince Frederik is believed to have left earlier in the day.
Mary's departure wrapped up a private stay by the royal trio, who spent time with the former Taroona schoolgirl's family.
Avoiding the departure lounge, Mary and Christian were driven onto the tarmac by a procession of vehicles, their black Audi 4WD flanked by Federal Police and security personnel.
Judy Owen, from Hobart, at the airport farewelling her son, said she was surprised the departure was so low key.
"I thought there would have been a few family members to wave her off, but obviously she just wanted to slip away quietly," Ms Owen said.
A smiling Mary stepped from the Audi, her dark hair, dangling earrings and long cream and black skirt blowing in the light breeze.
Reflecting the warm spring weather, Mary finished her outfit with an oatmeal-coloured cardigan over a white singlet, flat black shoes and some gold bangles.
With an oversized cream bag draped over one shoulder and Prince Christian on her hip, the pregnant princess -- who is expecting the couple's second child early in May -- showed little sign of a baby bump.
As aircrew loaded her luggage, including Christian's pram, onto the plane, the little prince, dressed in a long sleeve grey top and grey pants, excitedly looked to the sky as Mary pointed out a helicopter flying overhead.
Mary stopped to thank her driver before boarding, and the plane departed immediately.
The family are expected to spend time in New South Wales before returning to Denmark early next month.
Unlike Mary's arrival, when she was greeted by members of Tasmania's Danish community and waiting media, her departure was a secret, low-key affair.
The departure lounge was empty except for a handful of Tasmanians farewelling family and friends, and some, like avid royal watcher Ms Owen, were excited by their accidental brush with royalty.
"I'm a royalist and I particularly like her, I think she's really nice," she said of Mary.
She said her son would be pleased Mary was on his flight.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months pregnant with Christian.


From The Herald Sun (Melbourne)

Princess Mary winds up Tassie trip

November 28, 2006 03:54pm

CROWN Princess Mary has left Tasmania after spending six days with her family on a private visit.
The Hobart-born princess flew from Hobart to Melbourne this afternoon with her one-year-old son, Prince Christian.
She is expected to spend time in New South Wales before returning to Denmark early next month.
Crown Prince Frederik is believed to have left Hobart this morning.
Royal protocol does not allow Frederik to fly with his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.
The royal family spent time in Hobart with Mary's sisters and browsed through galleries and market stalls in the city's historic Salamanca precinct.
The princess showed little sign of a baby bump despite recently announcing she will have her second child in May.
The family managed to evade the media for the final two days of the visit, spending time with Mary's relatives at an unknown location.


Same story from The Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
Also The Sydney Morning Herald