The Royalist - Mary Introduces Isabella To Tassie

Mary Introduces Isabella To Tassie

Written by Joanne Leyland

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

Last week saw Crown Princess Mary of Denmark cheering on sports stars in Beijing. Now comes an Olympian effort worthy of Michael Phelps and co. as the future queen made her first visit home in two years...

After months of speculation, Princess Mary has finally introduced the newest addition to her family to her Tasmanian homeland at the start of a private 10-day holiday Down Under.

With Crown Prince Frederik continuing to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Olympics, accompanying Mary on the 22-hour flight to Hobart airport were her son and daughter - Prince Christian (2) and Princess Isabella (15 months) - as well as a nanny, two prams and no less than eighteen suitcases.

And proving that she’s still a down-to-earth Aussie at heart, Princess Mary chose to fly home on a budget airline, Jetstar.

Not that the princess and her entourage had to endure too much scrutiny or elbow pushing from other travellers.

According to fellow passenger Lloyd Fox: "The first four rows were completely empty. We had no idea she was even on board until we landed in Hobart and noticed the cars, and she was allowed to get off before the rest of us."

Having been accompanied from the airport by Australian Federal Police, the royal family were driven to the home of Princess Mary’s sister, Jame Stephens’ West.

Although initially a private visit to Australia, the princess will return to the spotlight early next month.

Princess Mary will do the honours at the unveiling of a new statue of heart transplant pioneer Victor Chang during a visit to the Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney.