Australians welcome first homegrown queen as Princess Mary assumes the throne next to husband Prince Frederik

Aussies are preparing to welcome their first homegrown queen as Tasmanian-born Princess Mary assumes the throne on Sunday alongside her husband Crown Prince Frederik.

Far from the opulence and fanfare of a British coronation, the Danish proclamation will be a low-key event — the way it has been since the Danish constitution was adopted in 1849.

There hasn’t been a coronation since the 17th century, when it was substituted for an anointing after the monarchy became hereditary.

Crown Princess Mary will not witness the historic signing-over of power at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

Only Queen Margrethe, ascending king Frederik, soon-to-be crown prince Christian and other Council of State members will be at the abdication. The new king and queen will hold a small reception with special guests afterwards.

The new king will then take to the balcony at Christiansborg about 3pm (10pm WA time) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will officially proclaim the change of ruler before King Frederik X makes his first speech.

After the proclamation, the Sixtus Battery cannons will deliver a salute of honour at the entrance to Copenhagen Harbour. The new king and queen will return to their residence at Amalienborg, the cluster of four palaces that makes up the Danish royal family residence.

The royal couple will then host a small reception to celebrate, with Princess Mary’s sister Jane Stephens, a pharmacist in Tasmania, to be among the guests after it was revealed their father John Donaldson, 82, could not travel due to his age and health.

It is a long way from the Aussie shores of Princess Mary’s hometown of Hobart, and the local Sydney pub where the pair met in 2000 during the Olympic Games.

Then Mary Donaldson, she was a 28-year-old advertising executive when she first shook hands with the future Danish king, then 32, in the packed Slip Inn.

The Inn has delivered its own take on Danish decorations, drinks and cuisine, with its signature There’s Something About Mary cocktail, a mix of the Danish spirit Aquavit with vodka, lychee, lemon, vanilla and aquafaba.

Normally serving Mexican food, it will also dish up some “DenMex” grub for the occasion, with a special smoked hot dog called El Frederiko in honour of the new king.

The Federal Government has donated $10,000 to Wildcare in honour of the new queen, to go towards the conservation of the Tasmanian Devil.

The couple married in 2004 and have four children — Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 12-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

The royal road has not always been easy for Princess Mary, with a raft of scandals over the years, but she has weathered every storm with grace and is widely respected worldwide.

Late last year, rumours spread that Prince Frederik was having an affair with Mexican socialite Geneveva Casanova after he flew to Madrid in October for a private visit while Princess Mary was in New York.

Spanish tabloid Lecturas photographed him with Ms Casanova visiting a Picasso exhibition and having dinner.

The publication alleged he spent the night at her apartment, but Ms Casanova has flatly denied the affair.

The royal couple did not comment on the allegations, but it has been suggested that Queen Margrethe’s decision to abdicate could be a move to save their marriage.

Queen Margrethe II announced her abdication in her New Year’s Eve address, having held the crown since 1972.

The Danish Queen previously said she had no intention to abdicate, although she has linked her decision to her back surgery which “gave rise to thinking about the future”.