'Queen Mary' takes centre stage! Danish Prince Frederik's Aussie-born wife shines as the royal family turn out for annual New Year's dinner a day after reigning Queen Margrethe abdicated 'to put her w

Princess Mary was shining as she took centre stage at the Danish Royal Family's annual New Year's Day banquet hours after it was revealed she is set to become the first Australian-born queen. NEW QUEEN: All eye were on the new Queen as she arrived at the annual New Year's dinner at the Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen, tonight HISTORIC REIGN: The former Queen, Margrethe, also appeared in good spirits as she arrive at the event after her shock abdication, after spending 52 years on the throne The royal couple, Queen Mary of Denmark and King Frederik seem relaxed by the major decision It was announced yesterday that the popular couple would be becoming the King and Queen, with the current monarch stepping down CONFIDENT: Mary certainly didn't seem shy as she waved at the assembled crowds who'd come to see their new King and Queen. Native Australian Mary has won over Denmark, learning the native language and becoming popular with the people Princess Benedikte of Denmark arrives at the Amalienborg Palace for the annual New Year's dinner Dressed in a lavish red gown, one day after announcing she would be abdicating, Margrethe appeared to be all smiles as she made her way into the venue But despite allegations of an 'affair', Frederik and Mary made a show of unity as they headed into Aarhus cathedral on Christmas Eve. A new King and Queen of Denmark In a nod to her heritage, during her wedding Mary carried a bouquet of Australian snow gum eucalyptus interspersed with blooms from the Palace garden Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905.