Royals

Princess Mary and Fred: the marriage that almost didn’t make it

Mary was the Aussie girl living the fairytale dream of marrying a handsome prince, but she came close to giving it all up and a new telemovie is set to expose the reasons why.

The highly anticipated Ten telemovie, Mary: The Making Of A Princess, is set to expose the untold story of how Mary, the girl from Tasmania, almost gave up on the crown and her love for Fred, 46.

Due to air next year, already, promotions for the movie are hinting at “the moment they fell apart”, leaving royal insiders speculating about what bombshell the movie is keeping under wraps.

Related: Princess Mary and family frolic in Greenland

When Mary’s prince swept into a Sydney bar that fateful night during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games it seemed like a dream come true.

Palace insiders reveal though that despite the overwhelming love she felt for Frederik, Mary, who was just 28 at the time, was reluctant to begin a life where strict royal protocol would dictate her every move.

Related: Princess Mary’s greatest honour: Our Aussie queen!

“When we stood in front of the doors, I tried to relax and take a few deep breaths,” she said in one of her first interviews, discussing her debut appearance on the balcony at Amalienborg. “I had a feeling I couldn’t go out there… it was so overwhelming.”

“There’s a high price to pay for being royal,” explains monarchy expert Judy Wade. “The pressure under which they live is beyond belief – the scrutiny is a curse.”

“The world sees you as its property – royal women in particular are expected to set an example,” adds psychologist Meredith Fuller. “Their manners must be above reproach.”

Related: Princess Mary’s adorable daughter shows off for the cameras

Meanwhile, some suggest the reason behind their turbulent period was Fred’s reputation as a womaniser in his younger days, with Mary struggling to trust her Danish beau had put his bachelor past behind him. With a long string of exes, including lingerie models and a pop singer, he didn’t have the most stable record.

“It’s usually the second son who can get away with acting the playboy, but Frederick just kept playing the field,” an observer says of the royal family’s eldest son.

Read more about Fred and Mary’s turbulent beginnings PLUS see all the possible cast members and the juicy details on Ten’s new drama telemovie, Mary: The Making Of A Princess, only in Woman’s Day, on sale 24th November. 

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