Danish Royal Watchers: 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: