Princess Mary: Fabulous at 40!

She has gone from an Aussie real estate agent to the Crown Princess of Denmark. And now, Princess Mary will turn 40 on February 5. We take a look at her life in pictures…

Princess Mary met Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the Slip Inn in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics. The pair began a long distance relationship via phone and email and Frederik made a number of discreet visits to Australia to see her.

This picture was taken the first time that the pair posed together as a couple.

Princess Mary was raised in Hobart, Tasmania. She grew up with her three older siblings and although she now lives in Copenhagen, they remain very close.

Here she is with her dad John Donaldson.

Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik became officially engaged on 8 October, 2003.

In the lead up to their royal wedding, Princess Mary attended a number of functions with Prince Frederik and his family.

On May 14, 2004 Mary Donaldson became Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. The pair married at the Copenhagen Cathedral, in Copenhagen.

Princess Mary adapted to royal life easily. She has a number of patronages across the topics of culture, fashion and humanitarian aid.

In 2007, she announced the establishment of the Mary Foundation which aims to improve the lives of those who have been affected by a poor environment, illness or other circumstances.

Princess Mary gave birth to the couple’s first child on October 15, 2005 welcoming Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John.

On April 21, 2007 she welcomed her second child Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe.

The on August, 6 2010 it was announced that Princess Mary was pregnant with twins!

The twins, a boy and a girl, arrived on January 8, 2011.

However, the world had to wait to find out their names until their christening on April, 14, 2011 when it was announced that their names were Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander and Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda.

And 2011 continued to be a busy year for Princess Mary and her family.

Prince Frederik and Princess Mary’s son Christian started primary school! They posed with his here on his first day.

Then in November 2011, Australia’s two favourite princesses Kate Middleton and Princess Mary came together when they met in Copenhagen to complete a joint humanitarian mission.

See more pictures of the pair meeting here.

Princess Mary also headed back to Australia in 2011 where she took part in an official tour.

With her husband, by her side, she showed off her gorgeous twins at Admiralty House.

See more pictures of Princess Mary’s trip to Australia here.

Since becoming a princess, Mary has become known as a Fashion icon. She has been named one of the world’s most fashionable people in Vanity Fair‘s annual International Best-Dressed List.

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik stepped out at Grasten Castle to take these happy snaps of the whole family.

Adorably, her whole family was dressed matching in pale blue.

See more pictures of Princess Mary and her family here.