In a deeply personal speech, Crown Princess Mary revealed the immense grief she experienced following the death of her mother in 1997.
Mary was only 25 years old when her mother, Henrietta Donaldson, tragically passed away – seven years before Mary would make her ascent into a royal family by marrying Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.
WATCH: Princess Mary and Prince Frederik walk tensely as they attend Royal show
Now, having spent most of this year in Switzerland where her four children, Prince Christian, 14, Princess Isabella, 12, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 9, are attending the Lemania-Verbier International School, Mary briefly returned to Denmark to resume her royal duties.
As part of her work for the Mary Foundation, the princess spoke to high school students at an awards ceremony about serious illness, death and grief.
Drawing on her own experience of losing her mother, Mary told students that “loss and grief are a part of life, and both are more easily carried if you have someone to share it with”.
She added that, in hindsight, having struggled with loneliness, she believes she “would have benefited from opening up more and involving others in my grief”.
Despite recently expressing delight about their children spending the next few months at a Swiss boarding school, Crown Princess Mary and husband Frederik appeared tense and downcast during a recent outing.
The couple were photographed in and around Verbier, the alpine village near the location of their children’s temporary school. But amid news that Mary will be based in Switzerland until April, while Frederik splits his time between there and Denmark, there is concern the couple could be feeling the strain.
At the beginning of January, the family, including Prince Christian, 14; Princess Isabella, 12; and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 9, met with local press to answer questions about their children’s enrolment at the Lemania-Verbier International School.
The palace originally announced the children would be spending time there last year. A statement explained how Mary and Frederik wanted to “give their children the opportunity for a shared experience in an international environment”. It’s thought this time was chosen because next year, eldest son Christian will be focusing on his exams and subsequent graduation.
The children were quick to agree they were most looking forward to having skiing classes at their new school.
Nonetheless, Prince Christian told the press corps: “We are very much looking forward to getting to know a new country. And learn about schooling here in Switzerland.”
For more, see this week’s New Idea – out now.
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