Princesses greet a Princess in Melbourne

24 Nov 2011, 6:16 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been overwhelmed by the reception she has received in Melbourne on a day when she shed a tear over a cancer victim.

Hundreds of little Australian princesses and their mums have greeted Crown Princess Mary of Denmark around Melbourne on a day that brought a tear to a royal eye.

The royal day began with the opening of an eco-friendly school in Melbourne's southeast where Princess Mary received a crash course on windcatchers, insulation and environment-conscious lighting.

The Princess also received a welcome she described as "overwhelming" from dozens of little girls dressed as princesses at the Pakenham Springs Primary School.

Kneeling to chat with obvious affection to the children, Princess Mary won hearts and created a big impression with the 700 students she joined at the school's assembly.

"Overwhelming, it's just lovely," Princess Mary said.

"I have been so warmly received, it's heartwarming."

School leader Rhiannon Jack spoke for her entire school, saying she had been struck by the natural style of the next Queen of Denmark.

"She was friendly, she made us feel comfortable," Rhiannon said.

The Princess revealed another side of her natural and warm personality later in the day at the launch of an advertising campaign featuring the moving story of Wes Bonny, who died from skin cancer last year at the age of 26.

During the screening of the ad to a hushed audience at Victoria's Parliament House, Princess Mary wiped a tear from her eye and later spoke privately to Wes's parents, Jackie and Peter.

The advertisement tells Mr Bonny's story through the eyes of his family and friends

Princess Mary is the ambassador of the Danish cancer society's sunsmart campaign.

At the day's major "meet-and-greet" an enthusiastic crowd of royal watchers, schoolgirls and mothers with babies greeted the Princess on the banks of the Yarra.

On her way to a display of one of Denmark's best known exports, Lego, the mother of four stopped every few metres to talk to children and swoon over babies.

Along with the regular gifts of bouquets and children's cuddly toys, she also received a special memento from a Melbourne mum who has a special link to Tasmania's Danish Royal.

Natassia Iatrou of East Malvern gave Princess Mary a copy of her daughter's favourite book, Ten Little Fingers, by Australian author Mem Fox.

"That's absolutely lovely," Princess Mary said.

The book is about babies born all over the world who have at least one thing in common - their fingers and toes.

"It's my daughter Chloe's favourite book and I wanted Mary to have a copy because she is clearly a wonderful mother," Ms Iatrou said.

For Ms Iatrou, Thursday's brush with Tasmania's future Scandinavian queen wasn't her first.

She was also at the same pub in Sydney on the same night the Princess met her husband-to-be Crown Prince Frederik during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Prince Frederik joined his wife for the Lego leg of their Melbourne visit, taking on a nodding and waving role, having been the star attraction earlier in the day at a meat-processing plant in central Victoria.

Sporting a hair net and disinfected boots, the Prince visited the Don-KP factory in Castlemaine where another Australian woman who recognised his charms eagerly awaited his arrival.

"If I get to pash him, you've got to snap it, OK," she instructed a photographer.

While the future King of Denmark may be the main attraction in his home country, Australians tend to see it differently.

Local resident Ethel Moon, 78, admitted she'd hoped he would turn up with his wife.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that the princess isn't here too," she said.

"They are a lovely couple. So human, so natural."

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