Crown Princess Mary arrives in Australia for private visit

Photo © Zimbio/The Photo Agency

Crown Princess Mary has arrived in Hobart for a private visit with her family and friends. The visit was confirmed yesterday while Mary was in transit by Court spokesperson Lene Balleby. Mary has not visited Australia since 2008. Mary made an early low-key arrival in Sydney and immediately took a connecting flight to Hobart, arriving around 10am local time. The description of the visit as a secret one is obviously redundant. Reports in various Australian media stories that Crown Prince Frederik is in Singapore are incorrect. Frederik is currently regent while Queen Margrethe is on summer holiday at Château de Cayx with Prince Henrik. He has been regent since August 13 and will continue as regent until August 23, so is at home to be with Prince Christian and Princess Isabella while Mary is away for a week. Frederik will be in Singapore August 24-26 for the Youth Olympics and the 25th anniversary of the Danish Seamen's Church in Singapore and so will be unable to attend the wedding of his Greek cousin Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik on August 25. Crown Princess Mary will attend the wedding for both of them since she will have returned after her last day in Australia on Saturday August 21. Reports suggest Mary will travel to Adelaide to celebrate friend Amber Petty's 40th birthday on Saturday before returning to Denmark.


Photos © Kim Eiszele/The Examiner/The Australian/News.com.au/The Mercury & Zimbio/The Photo Agency, ABC TV

The Sydney Morning Herald - Princess touches down in Hobart
The Launceston Examiner - Princess Mary touches down
The Australian - Princess Mary arrives in her home town of Hobart
ABC Online - Princess Mary heads to Tasmania
The Age (Melbourne) - Princess Mary arrives in Hobart
The Herald Sun (Melbourne) - Princess Mary's media pack warned about privacy laws
News.com.au - Princess Mary arrives in her home town of Hobart
ABC News - Princess Mary touches down in Tassie
The Australian - Denmark's Crown Princess Mary flies into Hobart on a private visit
ABC News - Expectant Princess Mary returns home
Adelaide Now - Princess Mary arrives in Hobart, ahead of trip to Adelaide
ABC News - Media warned on Princess Mary's privacy

The Mercury (Hobart) - gallery of arrival photos in windy Hobart
SMH clip - Mary disembarking in Hobart (00:44)
Yahoo/7news clip (01:07)
nineMSN Today Show (03:58)

Mary goes to market

A kiss for Christian from mother Mary yesterday.
Photo in The Sun Herald: Per Groth

Family time in Hobart continues for the Donaldsons. Family members gathered are Jane and Craig Stephens and their children Alexander, Erin and Kate, Patricia and Scott Bailey and their daughter Mollie and Patricia's two older children Michael and Maddison, also John, Mary's brother, his wife Leanne and their daughters Sheree and Michelle and John Donaldson senior. There are other family members no doubt, but we haven't seen them in photos yet. Frederik and John (brother) have been out and about together and generally Mary seems determined to just be in her home town and enjoy the things she loves about her original home. Christian's nanny Mette Hansen (second photo below) is also out and about and obviously warmly embraced within the Donaldson clan.



From The Sunday Tasmanian:

If it's Saturday, it's Salamanca for Mary
by Kane Young
November 26, 2006 12:00am

[The Sunday Tasmanian is the Sunday version of The Hobart Mercury]
SALAMANCA shoppers got more than they bargained for yesterday as Princess Mary and her entourage descended on the market to pick up some mementos of home.
The princess, who arrived for a holiday on Wednesday, is believed to have made two trips to the market yesterday, browsing in the early morning before returning in the afternoon.
Pushing baby Prince Christian in a pram, she was surrounded by family members, including her father John Donaldson, and security guards.
But Crown Prince Frederik was nowhere to be seen during the afternoon shopping mission.
Princess Mary bought some Tasmanian memorabilia and looked at clothing and jewellery, shadowed by a horde of photographers and TV cameras.
As well as the professional media, many market patrons were seen pulling out mobile phones to take snapshots of the princess, and then calling friends to boast of their close encounter with royalty.
With her shopping done, Princess Mary stopped to accept gifts for Christian from members of the public before walking along Salamanca lawns and past the Silo Apartments to a black 4WD, parked near the CSIRO. [Australian Government Scientific and Research Organisation building in Hobart]
After loading Christian and her purchases into the car, Princess Mary waved and said hello to well-wishers before jumping behind the wheel, doing a U-turn and driving off through Battery Point.
Senator Guy Barnett said Tasmania should avoid becoming like Europe, where Mary and Frederik have "paparazzi chasing them down" everywhere they go.
"They've been very, very kind to Tasmania," he said. "We've got to now call it quits and let them enjoy their holiday."

From The Sun Herald

Princess Mary in the market for a mystery

By Matthew Benns
November 26, 2006

CROWN Princess Mary took her son shopping at the markets of Hobart yesterday.
Happily mingling with crowds, the princess pushed son Christian, in a blue stroller, through the historic Salamanca Markets.
It was a relaxed Saturday morning for the princess, who is in Australia for a two-week personal visit with husband Crown Prince Frederik.
She was with sister Patricia Bailey, her two nieces and father John Donaldson for the trip to the markets. Like many husbands on holiday, Prince Frederik opted to duck the shopping trip.
Although it is a low-key visit, with the royals ignoring luxury hotels to stay at the West Hobart home of Mary's sister Jane Stephens, as many as four Danish bodyguards shadowed their every move.
The princess, who is three months pregnant, spent a great deal of time pondering earrings at one stall and colourful blankets at another.
She made a purchase that was carefully wrapped in a black plastic bag and plumped on top of the stroller for the rest of the shopping expedition.
Prince Christian stayed tucked up under a white blanket and only put in an appearance as his mum lifted him up, gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and popped the 13-month-old into a car.
The day before, the Danish royals had made their only official appearance of their visit with a photo call at Bonorong Wildlife Park, north of Hobart.
Prince Christian, nicknamed the kingaroo in Denmark, made an impression there with a swift kick to the head of a pademelon.

Christian mixes with the locals

Today Crown Princess Mary took Prince Christian to the playground at her nieces' school near sister Jane Stephens' house with other family members before an afternoon appointment at a wildlife park outside Hobart for a media photo call.

From The Hobart Mercury:
Zoo time for royalty

PHILIPPA DUNCAN
November 25, 2006 12:00am

Right, young Prince Christian is fascinated by Bam Bam the pademelon at Bonorong Wiildlife Park yesterday.

LITTLE Prince Christian met some marsupials yesterday, but the future King of Denmark found the line of flashing cameras much more strange and foreign.
Mum and Dad tried to tempt their little boy with koalas, echidnas, blue-tongue lizards, wombat and a potoroo, but Christian preferred to point at the cameras.
He peered quizzically around his father's shoulder at the entranced members of the media.
The little boy came face to face with the sort of fuss and attention that will follow him for the rest of his life, and he took notice.
"He's not used to so many cameras," said Danish royal reporter Anna Johannesen.
"He would not have seen so many.
"At the christening he was not old enough (to notice them)."



Left, Prince Christian shrinks back from the blue tongue lizards as Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik watch.


Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik made their first and only official appearance yesterday afternoon when they visited Bonorong Wildlife Park at Brighton.
Mary and Frederik, who have perfected the art of acting normally in the face of a 30-metre line of photographers, joked that they often felt like they lived in a zoo.
"Especially today," observed Mary, who is displaying a tiny baby bump, to the fenced-off pack of more than 50 photographers, reporters and camera people.
"But it is you who are behind the fence."
Christian, who took his first public steps clutching dad's hand yesterday, will have to wait until next year to discover whether he has a brother or a sister.
The couple said they did not know, and did not want to know, the sex of their second child, who is due in early May.
Dressed stylishly in a grey cotton blouse with beige pants, the pregnant Mary fended off questions about whether she she was buying blue or pink for her new baby.
"We don't know the colour yet," she replied.
"We don't want to know," chipped in Frederik.
They posed for about 20 minutes for the cameras with their 13-month-old son before waving the royal goodbye.
One journalist asked Frederik whether the media intrusion had been OK.
"Yeah, so far, but we expect it to get better," the prince said hopefully, before driving off with his wife and son, trailed by a carload of burly security men.

TV2.dk video clip (1:00)

DR.dk video clip (00:40)

Seven Network News clip (1:40) 'Danish Royals spend a day at the zoo'

Nine News clip (2:00) 'Prince's furry friends'

Prince Christian meets native fauna in mum's homeland in Hello! magazine

ABC News Online 'Mary, Frederik take their Kingaroo to a wildlife park'

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Daily Telegraph photo gallery (nice pics!)

TV2 photo gallery

TV2 article 'Prins Christian kælede med koala'

B.T. photo gallery

B.T. 'Mary og Frederik blandt koalaer og kænguruer'

Added:
Fyens Stiftstidende photo gallery

Politiken photo gallery

From The Sydney Morning Herald (with evidence, yet again, of a weird Herald headline! In case you need a primer it is supposed to be a twist on 'You're in trouble, Mary'):
Urine trouble, Mary

Andrew Darby in Hobart
November 24, 2006 - 9:35PM
Denmark's Crown Princess Mary introduced her toddler son to Tasmanian wildlife today, but the royal little boy seemed more enthralled by the photographers and camera crews who came along.

Mary and Crown Prince Frederik took 13-month-old Christian to a wildlife park outside Hobart.
About 70 members of the media stood behind a cordon to take pictures of the Danish trio as they posed with some very Australian icons.
A less than lens-shy Christian seemed more interested in the cameras and boom microphones and pointed to the media scrum several times only to be refocussed by his parents on the animals.
Rangers offered up blue-tongued lizards, a wombat and a range of other picturesque Aussie wildlife to the royal family.
But the visit soon took a comical turn as Mary dodged a spray of echidna urine and the offending animal was quickly taken away.
"Very close," said the princess, who being born in Australia should know the perils of appearing with local wildlife.
Rangers then returned with a small pademelon, a gentle and harmless type of wallaby, which was swiftly rewarded with a kick in the head from Christian.
Dressed stylishly in a grey cotton blouse with beige pants, the pregnant Mary fended off questions about whether she she was buying blue or pink for her new baby, due in March.
"We don't know the colour yet," she replied.
"We don't want to know," chipped in Frederik.
The heir to Denmark's throne and his Tasmanian-born wife are visiting her family for the first time since Christian's birth.
In a brief exchange they told reporters they were enjoying their stay but declined to elaborate on their holiday plans.
Today's picture opportunity was arranged in the hope that the media will leave the royal family alone for the rest of their time in Australia.
The irony of the location was not lost on journalists, one of whom cheekily asked Frederik if he felt he was the one in a zoo.
"What do you think," the prince called back.
The last word, however, went to Mary, as the royals' escape plan became clear.
"You're actually behind the fence," she told journalists, as the family made their escape and the media was left locked in the zoo for 20 minutes behind them. - with AAP

From The Hobart Mercury

Christian's first day at school

PHILIPPA DUNCAN
November 24, 2006 02:05pm

CROWN Princess Mary has shaken off the jetlag and was up early today to play with her son at a local West Hobart school.
Mary and a delighted 13-month-old Christian were spotted using the play equipment at the Lansdowne Crescent Primary School at 9am.
Mary's sister Jane Stephens, an unidentified blonde woman who flew in with Mary, two girls and a burly body guard completed the party.
Mary protectively nursed Christian in her lap on the swings while two federal police officers kept watch from a parked car 50m away.
Anybody who came near were questioned and asked to respect the Princess's privacy.
After about half an hour's play, a crowd of photographers had gathered and Mary decided it was time to leave.
The future Queen of Denmark, dressed in grey sweat pants, a casual black jacket and customary large sunglasses, pushed Christian up the hill to Jane's house, where she and Frederik have stayed since arriving in Hobart earlier this week.


From The Australian:
Princess Mary relaxes with family
By Robyn Grace
November 24, 2006
CROWN Princess Mary has hit the streets of West Hobart on the third day of her Australian family visit.
The Tasmanian-born princess looked comfortable as she pushed Prince Christian in a stroller through the West Hobart streets, where the Danish royals are staying.
Wearing grey pants, a black jacket and trainers, the pregnant princess looked relaxed as she enjoyed the morning stroll with her sister, Jane Stephens, and other family members.
Crown Prince Frederik left the house earlier in the morning, spending time at an unknown location before returning around midday.
The couple have arranged an official photo opportunity at an undisclosed location near Hobart this afternoon.
The photo call is the only official media event of their visit and the royals are expected to leave Hobart afterwards.
It is not known how long the couple, who married in 2004, are staying in Australia but the visit is also expected to include a stop in New South Wales.
Mary was living in Sydney when she met her husband during the 2000 Olympics. AAP

A few more photos from yesterday (and we will have more photos from the wildlife park soon):

Day two in Hobart

A media wrap of today's activities in Hobart.

From The Hobart Mercury:
Royals mosey down to Salamanca

KATHY GRUBE
November 24, 2006 12:00am

SHE was the picture-perfect mother, splashing in the fountain with her 13-month-old son while her husband shopped for board games.
The Danish royals ventured from their West Hobart base for a stroll through historic Salamanca in the late afternoon sunlight yesterday.
Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and their baby Christian joined Mary's two sisters and nieces for some fresh air and retail therapy after a day of relaxing at home.
Despite four body guards shadowing the family, the royals wandered almost unnoticed through Salamanca until a throng of television cameras and photographers gathered outside a shop in Salamanca Square.
First stop was Handmark Gallery where Mary made an unknown purchase.
Leaving Prince Frederik and his two Tasmanian nieces to investigate the puzzle and games store Socrates, Mary took little Christian to splash his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Being at an easily distracted age, the jovial little Prince soon decided he wanted the pink plastic egg his cousin was holding, which she graciously handed over.
Twenty minutes later Prince Frederik returned to Mary's side with two bags of board games.
On their way back to the cars parked in Salamanca Place, the family browsed through locally made art at the Tasmania Shop and Gallery.
By this time a crowd of about 50 had gathered with cameras at the ready in the hope of catching sight of the royals.
Jess Rundle, 21, of West Hobart, and Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore, could not pass up the opportunity of speaking with the Princess.
"I was very nervous, but thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity so went up and introduced myself to her," Ms Chivers said.
"I asked if she would be in Tasmania long and she said she would be here for a couple of weeks.
"I told her that Jess and I worked at Maldini Cafe Restaurant and we invited her to come in one night for dinner.
"She asked me if the food was still good, and when I said yes, she told me she might come in for a meal."
With Prince Frederik walking ahead and Christian in his arms, Princess Mary stopped to chat to shop owners who had come out of their shops to see her.
The couple disappeared as quickly as they appeared, with Prince Frederik expertly securing Christian in the back seat of a black Audi station wagon while Mary packed away the pram.
She may live in a European castle and have personal servants, but Danish Crown Princess Mary is enjoying a down-to-earth family reunion in her home town of Hobart.
The three-month pregnant Mary, who told reporters that she was "extremely tired" from her flight, took it easy during her first full day of her private holiday in Tasmania, only venturing out for the stroll to Salamanca.
She spent most of the day chatting with relatives at her sister Jane Stephens' West Hobart home.
A barefoot Prince Frederik, who had arrived in Tasmania a day earlier, played with little Christian for most of the day.
The little Prince was clearly the centre of attention, with his Tasmanian cousins keen to capture his attention.
The indoor games extended to the outdoors briefly when Prince Frederik gently bounced Christian on the backyard trampoline with Mary's nieces. But a protective Mary, who was wary of photographers camped outside the house, called them back indoors.
The adults stayed indoors, although Mary's sisters made a few quick trips to re-stock supplies and run errands.
The royal couple and their son were expected to hold a press conference today.
From The Hobart Mercury photo gallery:




From National Nine News

Mary surprises shoppers with city stroll

Thursday Nov 23 18:52 AEDT
A refreshed Crown Princess Mary hit the streets of Hobart on Thursday, strolling through the city's historic Salamanca district with her family in tow.
The Danish royals delighted shoppers with a surprise appearance in the popular tourist precinct, a day after Mary and her year-old son Christian joined Crown Prince Frederik for a private family visit.
Accompanied by Frederik and her sisters, the Tasmanian-born princess made a purchase at the Handmark Gallery before browsing through other stores.
Wearing jeans and a cream sweater, Mary then sat patiently as Frederik continued to shop and Christian splashed his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Media followed their every move as an even larger group of fans gathered to wish them well.
Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore near Hobart, greeted Mary as she shopped.
"I love her, I think she's beautiful," she said.
Spiro and Matina Parthenis were thrilled to have a brush with royalty during their holiday from Sydney.
"We knew she'd arrived and our friends jokingly sent SMS messages saying to say hello to Mary for us," Mrs Parthenis said.
Mary spent most of the second day of her Australian visit relaxing with family and taking in the sweeping city views from her sister's West Hobart home, where the royals are staying.
Frederik made a brief appearance outside the house on Thursday morning, bouncing Christian on a trampoline.
There was little other movement all day as Mary - who is pregnant with her second child - caught up with her sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and some of their children.
A frustrated Mary declined to talk to the media as she struggled to load Christian's pram into their four-wheel-drive.
Frederik helped his wife with the pram before the family sped away, followed by their security.
The royal family's holiday plans are being kept tightly under wraps and a photo opportunity on Friday is the only official engagement planned during their stay.
©AAP 2006


Seven News:
Mary surprises shoppers with city stroll

Thursday November 23, 06:52 PM
A refreshed Crown Princess Mary hit the streets of Hobart on Thursday, strolling through the city's historic Salamanca district with her family in tow.
The Danish royals delighted shoppers with a surprise appearance in the popular tourist precinct, a day after Mary and her year-old son Christian joined Crown Prince Frederik for a private family visit.
Accompanied by Frederik and her sisters, the Tasmanian-born princess made a purchase at the Handmark Gallery before browsing through other stores.
Wearing jeans and a cream sweater, Mary then sat patiently as Frederik continued to shop and Christian splashed his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Media followed their every move as an even larger group of fans gathered to wish them well.
Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore near Hobart, greeted Mary as she shopped.
"I love her, I think she's beautiful," she said.
Spiro and Matina Parthenis were thrilled to have a brush with royalty during their holiday from Sydney.
"We knew she'd arrived and our friends jokingly sent SMS messages saying to say hello to Mary for us," Mrs Parthenis said.
Mary spent most of the second day of her Australian visit relaxing with family and taking in the sweeping city views from her sister's West Hobart home, where the royals are staying.
Frederik made a brief appearance outside the house on Thursday morning, bouncing Christian on a trampoline.
There was little other movement all day as Mary - who is pregnant with her second child - caught up with her sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and some of their children.
A frustrated Mary declined to talk to the media as she struggled to load Christian's pram into their four-wheel-drive.
Frederik helped his wife with the pram before the family sped away, followed by their security.
The royal family's holiday plans are being kept tightly under wraps and a photo opportunity on Friday is the only official engagement planned during their stay.

ABC News Online:
Royal trio do a spot of shopping

The Danish royals have been spotted out in public this afternoon, strolling through the shops of Hobart's Salamanca Place.
Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Christian are enjoying a week-long break with the Princess's relatives in Tasmania.
Having spent yesterday resting at the house of Princess Mary's sister, the royal trio have today ventured into the historic Salamanca precinct.
They wandered through toy shops and galleries.
Prince Christian also enjoyed a splash in the Salamanca Square Fountain.
Princess Mary's two sisters and some of her nieces joined them on the shopping trip.
They were being guarded by Tasmania Police dignitary protection officers.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opens the door to speak to a journalist at her sister Jane Stephens' house in West Hobart, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006.


Ninemsn video clip (2:35) 'Princess Mary comes home'
Seven News video clip (0:28) 'Danish royals on private trip down under'

Some photos from POLFOTO (Abaca) 23 November:

From TV2 photo gallery which shows that Mary's brother, John Stuart Donaldson, (and presumably his family too) are at the Donaldson family gathering:

In Hobart...

Television evening news programs in Australia have shown the airport arrival footage from this morning and Frederik, Mary and Christian at sister Jane's house in West Hobart. It has just been reported on the Nine Network that Frederik, Mary and Christian are staying at Jane's house. Frederik spoke to a reporter pushing for an interview/info and he asked that they be left alone ('a fair go' in Ozspeak) and said that they would give a photo opportunity on Friday.

Also, from The Age (Melbourne) has similar info as earlier reports but adds that Frederik went shopping with Jane Stephens at a delicatessen before going to the airport this morning.

Mary, Frederik bring home their Kingaroo

November 22, 2006 - 11:18AM
Away from the formality of Denmark's royal palaces, Crown Princess Mary put her feet up in Hobart and showed her young son Australia for the first time.
Carrying 13-month old Prince Christian, a casually-dressed Mary got off a Qantas flight from Melbourne to be warmly embraced at Hobart airport by her waiting husband, Crown Prince Frederik.
The reunited royals looked like any other young family, and they are clearly hoping for a relaxed, private holiday, away from the media spotlight.
Later, speaking at the door of her sister Jane Stephens' home in West Hobart, Mary told AAP she "just wanted some time with family".
"I'm thrilled to be back and to see everyone, especially those who haven't seen Christian yet," she said, before retreating back inside the contemporary, glass-fronted home overlooking Hobart.
It is the Tasmanian-born Mary's first trip home to Australia since the birth of Christian, the half-Australian heir to the Danish throne who some have nicknamed Kingaroo.
And it's just a month since she announced she is expecting her second child, due in May.
Mary would not say how long she and Frederik plan to spend in Tasmania, although they are expected to stay with her sister Jane until at least Friday.
Mary looked relaxed and content as she caught up with nieces in the lounge area of the suburban home.
Although declaring she was "extremely tired" after her flight, she was excited to be reunited with Ms Stephens, her other sister, Patricia Bailey, and their families, she said.
A small media pack soon gathered outside the home but were asked by members of Tasmania's police dignitary protection squad to move on as the Danish royals "won't be going anywhere".
"Bearing in mind they have flown from the other side of the world ... the first thing they are looking for is bed," a spokesman said.
"They're in the family home and we'd ask you ... to respect that she is back at home on the first day of her holiday."
Mary and Frederik have agreed to one photo opportunity during their visit, in the hope the media will then respect their privacy.
It is not known when Frederik arrived in Hobart, but the future king of Denmark usually flies separately to his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.
After his wife's arrival, the dashing prince surprised shoppers at a West Hobart delicatessen before returning to Ms Stephens' home with bags of groceries.
Earlier, passengers on the Melbourne flight were surprised to see Mary, who was dressed casually in jeans, a navy sweater and camel-coloured jacket.
Delighted Australian designer Liz Davenport sat three rows behind the princess.
"She was very casually dressed ... the perfect yummy mummy," she said.
Christian was well behaved during the flight and only one passenger approached Mary for a photograph, Ms Davenport said.
"Everybody was extremely respectful of her," she said.
"Just as an individual person catching a plane. She was treated with absolute respect."
In normally sedate West Hobart, Ms Stephens' neighbour, Romilda Amorosa, said she was so excited when Princess Mary arrived she forgot to put bicarb soda in her banana cake.
"She's beautiful," she said.
"She looks kind and gentle and beautiful."
Ms Amorosa watched bemused as the media waited for a glimpse of Mary.
"She deserves every bit of it (attention)," she said.
"We're proud of her because she's Tasmanian."
© 2006 AAP

and... from ABC News Online:

Tas police appeal for royal privacy
Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark have had a quiet and casual start to their Tasmanian holiday.
Crown Princess Mary and her son, Prince Christian, arrived in Hobart this morning. They were greeted by Crown Prince Frederick, who arrived on an earlier flight.
The Danish royals headed for the West Hobart home of Princess Mary's sister, Jane Stephens.
As the Princess and one-year-old Prince caught up with a large group of relatives, Prince Frederick popped down to a West Hobart delicatessen.
A customer was surprised to spot the Crown Prince helping Princess Mary's sister select ingredients for dinner.
Media waiting outside Mrs Stephens's house, meanwhile, have been asked to leave by Tasmania Police dignitary protection officers.
The royal visit has been anticipated for months and local media crews have been scrambling to get shots of the Crown Prince, Princess and their one-year-old son on their first day in Hobart.
While Princess Mary's young relatives have been happy to peek out at the waiting cameras, the royal couple have stayed behind closed doors most of the day.

Touchdown: Frederik, Mary & Christian in Hobart

Frederik arrived first, Mary and Christian have arrived a couple of hours ago. They are now at Mary's sister Jane Stephens' house in West Hobart having lunch and there is a media contingent there, so we can expect more of this kind of reporting as the day goes on.
National Nine News
Danish princess relaxing with family
Wednesday Nov 22 13:36 AEDT
Crown Princess Mary is relaxing with her family in Hobart after flying in for a private visit to Tasmania.
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik was waiting at Hobart airport to greet his casually-dressed wife, who arrived on a flight from Melbourne with her one-year-old son Prince Christian just before 10am (AEDT -OzEasternDaylightTime)) on Wednesday.
The couple embraced before Mary, dressed in jeans, a navy sweater and camel jacket, drove into Hobart in a four-wheel drive with Frederik and their son.
Photos from Nine News screencaps:



Our screencaps:


Ninemsn video clip of Mary's arrival (00:30 - sorry, plus a Qantas ad, it is from commercial TV)


From The Sydney Morning Herald
Princess in jeans touches down

November 22, 2006 - 12:00PM

Crown Princess Mary ... "She's not really your average woman, is she?"
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark flew into her home town of Hobart today for a long-anticipated private family visit.
The pregnant Mary and her son, Prince Christian, were among passengers aboard a Qantas flight from Melbourne which landed just before 10am (AEDT) today.
A casually dressed Mary was met on the tarmac by her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, and the couple embraced before driving away to an undisclosed destination.
It's not known when Frederik arrived, but he usually flies separately to his son, who is next in line to the Danish throne.
Mary, wearing jeans, a navy sweater and camel-coloured jacket, carried 13-month-old Christian to a four-wheel drive and buckled him into a rear seat.
The couple's visit comes around a month after Mary announced she was pregnant with their second child, which is due in early May.
The couple are expected to spend at least a week visiting family in Tasmania, where Mary grew up.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months' pregnant.
Passengers on the flight were surprised to find themselves in the presence of royalty.
"She's not really your average women, is she?" remarked Ken Greenwood, in Hobart on business.
Delighted Australian designer Liz Davenport, in town to launch her brand in Tasmania, sat three rows behind the princess.
"She was very casually dressed ... the perfect yummy mummy."
Ms Davenport said Christian was very well behaved during the flight and only one passenger approached Mary for a photograph.
"Everybody was extremely respectful of her," she said.
"Just as an individual person catching a plane. She was treated with absolute respect."
Kay Aspen, holidaying from New Zealand, said the princess looked "beautiful".
"When I saw her on the plane I thought how lucky are we." AAP

The Daily Telegraph (you gotta love the bit about the banana cake!):
Mary had a little lunch

November 22, 2006 12:00

CROWN Princess Mary is lunching with her family in Hobart today after flying in for a private visit to Tasmania.
The Australian-born Danish royal said she was "extremely tired'' after her flight, with one-year-old son Christian, and wanted to relax.
Waiting to welcome Mary and Christain - on his first trip to his family's home Down Under - at Hobart airport was their husband and father, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik.
Casually-dressed Mary arrived on a flight from Melbourne with Christian just before 10am.
The couple embraced before Mary, dressed in jeans, a navy sweater and camel jacket, drove into Hobart in a four-wheel drive with Frederik and their son.
Mary travelled to her sister's home in West Hobart where she relaxed with her nieces before speaking briefly to journalists.
The princess would not disclose the couple's holiday plans, saying simply she "just wanted some time with family''.
Mary, who is pregnant with her second child, would not say how long she was staying in Australia but said she was excited to be reunited with her two sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and their families.
"I'm thrilled to be back and to see everyone, especially those who haven't seen Christian yet,'' said Mary, who grew up in Hobart.
Frederik arrived at the house shortly afterwards, entering through the back door.
Neighbours were stunned.
One, Romilda Amorosa, said she was so excited when Princess Mary arrived she forgot to put bicarb soda in her banana cake.
"She's beautiful,'' she said. "She looks kind and gentle and beautiful.''
Ms Amorosa watched in bemusement as the media contingent grew in front of her home.
"She deserves every bit of it (attention),'' she said. "We're proud of her because she's Tasmanian.''
Mary's family later erected screens inside her sister's home to shield them from the media's gaze.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months pregnant with Christian.

The Hobart Mercury report is similar to the AAP/Herald story and The Daily Telegraph story.