Mary follows in Diana's footsteps
March 4, 2005 - 10:45PM
Denmark's Crown Princess Mary has followed in the footsteps of Diana Princess of Wales, promoting the work of murdered heart surgeon Victor Chang.
The 33-year-old Australian-born princess spent Friday touring the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute's laboratories in Sydney's east, officially opened by Diana in 1996.
And more than 550 guests looked on in awe as Princess Mary danced the first waltz with former NSW premier Neville Wran at the institute's ball in Sydney, just as Diana did on her final Australian tour.
Princess Mary, looking stunning in a full-length black V-neck gown with diamonte detail, diamond drop earrings and her hair swept up in a roll, smiled as she danced with Mr Wran in the grand ballroom of the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel to the song Moon River.
The cause is close to Princess Mary's heart, after she lost her mother Henrietta to heart disease in 1997, the same year Diana was killed in a Paris car crash.
Addressing the crowd, Princess Mary said it was an honour and a pleasure to support the work of Victor Chang.
"My family knows all too well the impact of losing someone to heart disease and I feel very privileged to be in a position today where I can lend my support and help to bring attention to a cause that is so very close to my heart," she said.
"The Victor Chang institute needs your support to continue and expand their potential life-changing work that may one day impact not only you and me but our children and generations to come."
Prince Frederik was attending a gala dinner for the Farr-40 world sailing championships and did not accompany his wife to the ball.
Earlier, the Royal Australian Navy gave the princess a guard of honour as she walked the red carpet, accepting flowers and a hand-written letter from fans.
Mr Wran introduced her to Ann, Vanessa, Matthew and Marcus Chang before accompanying her into the ballroom.
Princess Mary's sister, Jane Stephens, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Ros Packer were among the high-profile guests at the black-tie function.
The A-list event was held in the same ballroom where Diana and Prince Charles danced their way on to the front pages of newspapers around the world in 1988.
Princess Mary - who now makes a habit of mingling with locals before private engagements - was given two packets of fruit tingles and flowers as she arrived at her first official engagement today.
Bryce, Rory, Luca, Tom, Quinn, Rhys and Mathew, all aged four, said they heard the princess enjoyed fruit tingles and gave them to her as she arrived at the Victor Chang institute in Darlinghurst.
Princess Mary, wearing a sleeveless white wrap top with grey stripes, cream pants and cream stilettos, shook their hands and thanked the children, who were from the St Vincent's Hospital Childcare Centre.
Fourteen-year-old Sasha Steinhoff, from Darling Point, also met the princess, giving her a handmade card and pink flowers.
"I think you and Frederik are the fairytale couple and I watched your wedding seven times and cried on at least two of those times because it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever seen," the card read.
"You do Australia proud and I admire your charm and grace and the way you have conducted yourself in your new role."
Ms Steinhoff said she wanted to meet the princess after seeing her earlier in the week at the Cruising Yacht Club in Rushcutters Bay, and at the Westin Hotel for the Red Cross 90th anniversary Gala dinner.
Princess Mary toured the laboratories with institute chairman Mr Wran, executive director Bob Graham, and board member Anne Keating.