Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary turns 50

Islamabad: The embassy of Denmark in Pakistan led by Ambassador of Denmark Lis Rosenholm, this week celebrated the birthday of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

“Today, HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark turns 50. The Crown Princess’ birthday will be celebrated in the beginning of February with a number of events. The Crown Princess is patron of many national and international organisations, institutions, and foundations, and is an honorary member of various associations and societies of events. We wish her a very Happy Birthday,” the embassy tweeted.

The Princess’ work to improve the rights of women and girls, particularly in the developing world, has taken her abroad to visit some of the poorest and most at-risk communities, including most recently to Burkina Faso in October.

Princess Mary has also made it her life’s work to champion women’s empowerment and gender equality and is patron of the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.

Those roles have seen Princess Mary give keynote speeches around the world, including in South East Asia when she spoke at the Women Deliver conference in Malaysia in 2013.

One of the issues she has shed light on is women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to family planning and the reduction of maternal and child mortality.

The Princess has long been a lover of the outdoors and horse riding, and in the past few years has taken up the sport professionally, making her dressage show debut in 2020. This week was one of Mary’s most memorable as she celebrated her 50th birthday.

The festivities began on January 31, when she officially open the ‘Mary and the Crown Princesses’ exhibition at Koldinghus Museum, in Kolding.

Princess Mary’s actual birthday – February 5 – was celebrated with her family in private. Covid pandemic being one the reasons.