Fairytale Danish wedding for woman from Oz

AUSTRALIAN Mary Donaldson married Danish Crown Prince Frederik yesterday in a fairytale wedding out of any of the stories written by Hans Christian Andersen.

Visibly moved, the couple exchanged their vows inside Our Lady's Church in Copenhagen, before hundreds of family members, European and Asian royals and other invited guests. Across Denmark, thousands more watched the lavish spectacle on live television and heard it on national radio. Outside the cathedral, tens of thousands of people lined the streets to watch the ceremony on dozens of outdoor video screens.

Lutheran Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen asked the couple if they would love and honour each other and live with each other in prosperity and adversity.

Frederik said yes in a clear voice followed by Mary, who said the same. The couple affirmed their vows twice, a Danish Lutheran wedding tradition.

"Since you have promised one another that you will live together in marriage and have now confirmed before God, and before us who are present, I declare you to be man and wife before God and all of mankind," Bishop Svendsen said.

Afterwards, the couple sat on a bench facing the altar, holding hands and looking into look each other's eyes, smiling.

The wedding took place before 800 guests, including European and Asian royals, Danish and Australian dignitaries and close friends.

The Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie were among the guests. Donaldson becomes Crown Princess Mary, a Danish citizen and member of Denmark's State Lutheran Church. Inside the 175-year-old sand-coloured church, Mary, 32, walked slowly down the length of the 120 feet aisle upon a red carpet, her father John on one arm. She wore a shiny white and elegant, but simple wedding gown with a folded train and a veil made from 100-year-old Irish lace.

Frederik was clad in a formal Danish naval uniform, his chest decorated with medals and wearing the Order of the Elephant.