THEY may be next-in-line to the Danish throne, but Crown Prince Frederik and his Aussie wife Princess Mary are renowned for living a low-key life.
From meeting in a pub to enrolling their kids in regular schools, the couple appear keen to favour normality over formality.
They seem to have taken a cue from Frederik's mum Queen Margrethe II, who has been spotted popping into her local Lidl and enjoying a hot dog.
So insistent is the Queen, 82, that the monarchy move with the times, she recently took the controversial decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their royal titles.
The change impacts Prince Frederik's brother Prince Joachim's children. Her Majesty said in a statement: "'Carrying a royal title entails a number of obligations and duties, which will in future be the responsibility of fewer members of the royal family."
This week action man Prince Frederik has been away from the drama, taking part in a sailing competition in France with pals. Here we take a look at his family – dubbed the world's most down-to-earth royals.
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Met in pub and bonded over music
Prince Frederik first set eyes on his future wife at a bar called the Slip Inn during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Although he was at the bar with his brother and other high profile royals including the future king of Spain and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Mary reportedly had no idea who he was.
He even introduced himself to her as Fred, and left out the fact that he was the heir to the Danish throne.
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At the time Felipe VI of Spain – then Prince of Asturias – was friends with Mary's flatmate.
Mary – like Kate Middleton – is not from an aristocratic family, although she does come from a line of influential people.
Princess Mary is often compared to the Princess of Wales due to their striking resemblance and very similar sense of style.
Mary and Frederik began a long distance relationship – with the prince often sneaking off to Australia to spend time with her.
In May 2004, the couple married in an emotional ceremony, with Prince Frederik captured wiping away tears as his bride walked down the aisle.
Earlier this year Aussie pop star Alex Lloyd claimed Frederik told him they had fallen in love while listening to his track Black the Sun.
The couple are big music fans and have been seen heading to music festivals such as Roskilde, where they blend in with the crowd.
In 2014 Frederik and Mary went to see The Rolling Stones perform at a festival just outside Copenhagen.
Normal education
Frederik and Mary share four kids – Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 11.
The couple chose to send them to normal schools after a documentary revealed a culture of bullying and abuse at their former school – the elite Herlufsholm.
Prince Christian was later enrolled into Ordrup Gymnasium, while Princess Isabella was sent to Ingrid Jespersens Gymnasium.
A royal insider at the time said: "It is not a boarding school that is largely reserved for the children of the elite… therefore I believe that the choices they have made now will be well received by the Danes.”
The decision was apparently taken as the Royal Family did not want to be seen to distance themselves from the rest of the population.
The children also attended a regular primary school.
Pandemic life
Like the rest of us, the Danish royals had to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic.
They shared a heart-warming video from their back garden, enjoying some fresh air, with Princess Mary admitting: "It is the second week of home education and it has required some transformation of both the children and us.”
In the clip, Prince Vincent spoke the mind of thousands of children by revealing he was finding home-schooling "really boring".
The royal kids proved they have a great sense of humour in a documentary earlier this year, where they teased their mum for her Australian accent.
Princess Isabella said: "There are some words she says a bit funny."
Her brother, future king Christian, added: "Sometimes, if she wants to say 'put the dog in its basket', it always turns into, 'the dog lies in its hook'."
Bold tattoos
Unlike many royals, Prince Frederik is a fan of tattoos and has two on his body – including a shark on his calf.
The other is an artwork that means "pingu" – the nickname he earned after completing his frogman training with the Royal Danish Navy.
The royals are often pictured together enjoying family holidays, where Frederik happily goes topless and shows off his tatts.
On holiday in Australia, they were pictured popping into the supermarket IGA to buy supplies and treats for the kids.
The supermarket's owner told the media: "They wandered around for about 15 minutes and then left. They were pretty incognito, they were just like a normal, everyday couple with four kids.
"As they drove off she was driving, with hubby in the passenger seat and the kids in the back."
They were also spotted buying hot drinks at a local coffee shop.
Casual wardrobes
Although she’s been called one of the best dressed women in the world, Princess Mary often goes into mum mode when she's with her kids and matches their casual style.
When not on official duties, the family are often seen wearing jeans or shorts and T-shirts.
The Crown prince also likes to dress down in hoodies and trainers.
Sporty
The family have a very active lifestyle and have spoken about their love of sports.
Prince Frederik has run many marathons including Copenhagen, New York, and Paris – and doesn't shy away from a sweaty after-photo.
This summer the family were photographed supporting him and Christian after they completed the Royal Run, an event started by Frederik.
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Before meeting his future wife, the prince was considering pursuing a career as an Olympic athlete.
However, he realised it would have required him to scale back on his royal duties, so eventually decided to give it up.
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