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Sunday Telegraph:
Unofficial duties for Mary
By SHARRI MARKSON
March 6, 2005
PRINCESS Mary may wear a crown, but when she escaped her official duties last week, she drank beer and hit the designer stores with her mates.
"She's still down to earth," said one male friend, who did not wish to be named.
The princess's closest friends have helped compile an exclusive diary of her "unofficial" week in Sydney, revealing her love of fashion, fine dining – and Tasmanian beer.
The secret life of Mary included outings to the exclusive nightclub Hemmesphere, dinners at Longrain and China Doll, a private party at Paddington and splurging on a $395 designer jacket.
"It has been incredibly hard for her to come back to her home country and do official things instead of catching up with friends and family," the friend said.
"She's looking happy to be back home, but things have changed since she was last here," he said. "She can't be so anonymous."
Multi-millionaire Sydney playboy Justin Hemmes hosted Prince Frederik and Princess Mary at his private club, Hemmesphere, on Tuesday.
"They were obviously enjoying themselves. They were there until around midnight," Mr Hemmes said.
The royal couple's love affair began during the Sydney Olympics at The Slip Inn, which is also owned by the Hemmes family.
"There were about 12 of them (at the club)," Mr Hemmes said. "They kicked back in casual clothes, but Mary still looked glamorous.
"Fred came earlier in the week with some friends, and then brought Mary back. They ate at Sushi-E and were enjoying the company of their friends. They were very polite."
Earlier that day, Princess Mary treated herself to some retail therapy, shopping in designer stores in Oxford St, Paddington.
She and her best friend and bridesmaid, Amber Petty, visited designer Akira Isogawa's store and Yipse Boutique after arriving in a silver Audi TT convertible.
Mary bought a $1980, cropped pink leather jacket by designer Rifat Ozbek's Pollini label from the Woollahra boutique Como.
She also paid $395 for a silk jacket from designer Leonie Levy's collection at Orson & Blake, in Queen St, Woollahra.
"She loved visiting her favourite shops without being recognised," one friend said. "She bought a couple of tops and a jacket."
Mary kicked up her heels at a discreet party for 30 of her closest friends at Ms Petty's Paddington home last Sunday night.
One close friend said she shared a few beers with her old mates.
"We had a few drinks," he said. "Aussie beers and a couple of James Boags might have been drunk. "Mary was fairly tired because she was a bit jet-lagged.
"No one really talked about life at the palace. "
Mary and Frederik also took time out to sample some of Sydney's best restaurants last week.
On Saturday night, the royal couple enjoyed Asian fusion cuisine with a small group of friends at Longrain, in Surry Hills.
"It was a really lovely dinner," one of her dining companions said.
The couple dropped by Woolloomooloo Wharf on Monday night and ate modern Asian food at dining hotspot China Doll.
On Wednesday night, they were entertained by outspoken radio personality Ray Hadley, who gained two new fans with his lively performance as auctioneer at a Red Cross fund-raising dinner.
"Frederik found Ray Hadley quite amusing," one friend said.
"They don't have auctions in Denmark, and he thought that was a nice variation. He thought it was funny. He laughed.
"But he loved Alex Lloyd the most. He's one of the prince's favourite performers."
While Frederik has spent much of his time sailing at the Farr 40 world championships, Mary has devoted every spare moment to catching up with her old friends.
Those in her inner circle said it had been difficult for the former real-estate agent to spend her first week back in Sydney attending official engagements.
"She's been caught by surprise by how much attention she has received," one friend said.
"For her first trip back, it's hard for her to be normal old Mary."
The royal couple hit Sydney's designer stores and a bookshop yesterday afternoon.
Frederik invested in a pair of blue Mambo boardshorts while Mary browsed in Idelwilde before the two of them spent 10 minutes in the Ariel bookshop.
Unofficial duties for Mary
By SHARRI MARKSON
March 6, 2005
PRINCESS Mary may wear a crown, but when she escaped her official duties last week, she drank beer and hit the designer stores with her mates.
"She's still down to earth," said one male friend, who did not wish to be named.
The princess's closest friends have helped compile an exclusive diary of her "unofficial" week in Sydney, revealing her love of fashion, fine dining – and Tasmanian beer.
The secret life of Mary included outings to the exclusive nightclub Hemmesphere, dinners at Longrain and China Doll, a private party at Paddington and splurging on a $395 designer jacket.
"It has been incredibly hard for her to come back to her home country and do official things instead of catching up with friends and family," the friend said.
"She's looking happy to be back home, but things have changed since she was last here," he said. "She can't be so anonymous."
Multi-millionaire Sydney playboy Justin Hemmes hosted Prince Frederik and Princess Mary at his private club, Hemmesphere, on Tuesday.
"They were obviously enjoying themselves. They were there until around midnight," Mr Hemmes said.
The royal couple's love affair began during the Sydney Olympics at The Slip Inn, which is also owned by the Hemmes family.
"There were about 12 of them (at the club)," Mr Hemmes said. "They kicked back in casual clothes, but Mary still looked glamorous.
"Fred came earlier in the week with some friends, and then brought Mary back. They ate at Sushi-E and were enjoying the company of their friends. They were very polite."
Earlier that day, Princess Mary treated herself to some retail therapy, shopping in designer stores in Oxford St, Paddington.
She and her best friend and bridesmaid, Amber Petty, visited designer Akira Isogawa's store and Yipse Boutique after arriving in a silver Audi TT convertible.
Mary bought a $1980, cropped pink leather jacket by designer Rifat Ozbek's Pollini label from the Woollahra boutique Como.
She also paid $395 for a silk jacket from designer Leonie Levy's collection at Orson & Blake, in Queen St, Woollahra.
"She loved visiting her favourite shops without being recognised," one friend said. "She bought a couple of tops and a jacket."
Mary kicked up her heels at a discreet party for 30 of her closest friends at Ms Petty's Paddington home last Sunday night.
One close friend said she shared a few beers with her old mates.
"We had a few drinks," he said. "Aussie beers and a couple of James Boags might have been drunk. "Mary was fairly tired because she was a bit jet-lagged.
"No one really talked about life at the palace. "
Mary and Frederik also took time out to sample some of Sydney's best restaurants last week.
On Saturday night, the royal couple enjoyed Asian fusion cuisine with a small group of friends at Longrain, in Surry Hills.
"It was a really lovely dinner," one of her dining companions said.
The couple dropped by Woolloomooloo Wharf on Monday night and ate modern Asian food at dining hotspot China Doll.
On Wednesday night, they were entertained by outspoken radio personality Ray Hadley, who gained two new fans with his lively performance as auctioneer at a Red Cross fund-raising dinner.
"Frederik found Ray Hadley quite amusing," one friend said.
"They don't have auctions in Denmark, and he thought that was a nice variation. He thought it was funny. He laughed.
"But he loved Alex Lloyd the most. He's one of the prince's favourite performers."
While Frederik has spent much of his time sailing at the Farr 40 world championships, Mary has devoted every spare moment to catching up with her old friends.
Those in her inner circle said it had been difficult for the former real-estate agent to spend her first week back in Sydney attending official engagements.
"She's been caught by surprise by how much attention she has received," one friend said.
"For her first trip back, it's hard for her to be normal old Mary."
The royal couple hit Sydney's designer stores and a bookshop yesterday afternoon.
Frederik invested in a pair of blue Mambo boardshorts while Mary browsed in Idelwilde before the two of them spent 10 minutes in the Ariel bookshop.
