Post by Inside Australian Idol on Mar 2, 2005 21:57:02 GMT 10
Royal couple wow Sydneysiders
March 2, 2005 - 10:10PM
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary wowed hundreds of Sydneysiders on Wednesday night as they arrived for a Red Cross charity dinner in the city.
The royal pair alighted from their official car to the cheers of several hundred people who had waited outside the plush Westin Hotel to glimpse the glamorous couple.
Australian-born Princess Mary was wearing a pale pink satin halterneck top with a midnight blue layered skirt, and open-toed strappy stiletto shoes.
Her dark brown hair was swept up into an elaborate bun, highlighting a pair of diamond drop earrings. She was carrying a small silver jewelled handbag.
Princess Mary did not talk to waiting media, other than to respond to a question about the origin of her outfit: "It's a combination of Danish and international designers."
Ten-year-old schoolgirl Melody Cargill handed her a bunch of pink roses before the couple attended a pre-dinner cocktail party for VIP guests.
Wednesday night's appearance follows criticism there have not been enough opportunities for locals to mingle with the royal couple during their Australian tour.
Singers Delta Goodrem, Alex Lloyd, Olivia Newton-John and Katie Noonan, from the band George, later performed at the gala dinner, titled One Enchanted Evening.
With some guests paying as much as $1,000 per head, the night was expected to raise more than $700,000 for the Australian Red Cross.
The artists were chosen because they are the princess' favourite Australian performers.
Delta Goodrem, wearing a yellow beaded Tea Rose gown, said that, when introduced to the royal couple, she spoke about a recent trip to Denmark.
"They were beautiful, they were really lovely," she told reporters.
Alex Lloyd said he was surprised when the royal couple asked him about his music, and discussed his first album when he was introduced.
More than 900 people, including NSW Premier Bob Carr, former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser and Australian Idol finalist Anthony Callea, joined the event.
But some celebrities were not so well known to the foreign press - when asked his name by a Danish journalist, swimmer Ian Thorpe told a bemused media contingent he was Bob Marley.
Earlier on Wednesday, Princess Mary was cheered by up to 100 school children as she visited a women's shelter in Sydney on behalf of the Red Cross.
Inside the grand ballroom where the dinner was held, the main feature was the royal table, which was furnished in assorted shades of red, with gold chairs for the couple.
There were also three arrangements of red roses, containing 300 roses styled as large crosses, and 120 tealights on the table.
The dinner menu was by award-winning celebrity chef Luke Mangan, who designed an entree of smoked salmon and potato terrine with baby beetroot and, for the main course, a breast of Kangaroo Island chicken with sweet potato puree.
Dessert was star anise and cinnamon pannacotta with pistachio fairy floss.
Ticket proceeds help the Red Cross young women's health program, a service that provides support for pregnant and homeless teenagers.
© 2005 AAP
www.smh.com.au/news/National/Royal-couple-wow-Sydneysiderss/2005/03/02/1109700540944.html
March 2, 2005 - 10:10PM
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary wowed hundreds of Sydneysiders on Wednesday night as they arrived for a Red Cross charity dinner in the city.
The royal pair alighted from their official car to the cheers of several hundred people who had waited outside the plush Westin Hotel to glimpse the glamorous couple.
Australian-born Princess Mary was wearing a pale pink satin halterneck top with a midnight blue layered skirt, and open-toed strappy stiletto shoes.
Her dark brown hair was swept up into an elaborate bun, highlighting a pair of diamond drop earrings. She was carrying a small silver jewelled handbag.
Princess Mary did not talk to waiting media, other than to respond to a question about the origin of her outfit: "It's a combination of Danish and international designers."
Ten-year-old schoolgirl Melody Cargill handed her a bunch of pink roses before the couple attended a pre-dinner cocktail party for VIP guests.
Wednesday night's appearance follows criticism there have not been enough opportunities for locals to mingle with the royal couple during their Australian tour.
Singers Delta Goodrem, Alex Lloyd, Olivia Newton-John and Katie Noonan, from the band George, later performed at the gala dinner, titled One Enchanted Evening.
With some guests paying as much as $1,000 per head, the night was expected to raise more than $700,000 for the Australian Red Cross.
The artists were chosen because they are the princess' favourite Australian performers.
Delta Goodrem, wearing a yellow beaded Tea Rose gown, said that, when introduced to the royal couple, she spoke about a recent trip to Denmark.
"They were beautiful, they were really lovely," she told reporters.
Alex Lloyd said he was surprised when the royal couple asked him about his music, and discussed his first album when he was introduced.
More than 900 people, including NSW Premier Bob Carr, former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser and Australian Idol finalist Anthony Callea, joined the event.
But some celebrities were not so well known to the foreign press - when asked his name by a Danish journalist, swimmer Ian Thorpe told a bemused media contingent he was Bob Marley.
Earlier on Wednesday, Princess Mary was cheered by up to 100 school children as she visited a women's shelter in Sydney on behalf of the Red Cross.
Inside the grand ballroom where the dinner was held, the main feature was the royal table, which was furnished in assorted shades of red, with gold chairs for the couple.
There were also three arrangements of red roses, containing 300 roses styled as large crosses, and 120 tealights on the table.
The dinner menu was by award-winning celebrity chef Luke Mangan, who designed an entree of smoked salmon and potato terrine with baby beetroot and, for the main course, a breast of Kangaroo Island chicken with sweet potato puree.
Dessert was star anise and cinnamon pannacotta with pistachio fairy floss.
Ticket proceeds help the Red Cross young women's health program, a service that provides support for pregnant and homeless teenagers.
© 2005 AAP
www.smh.com.au/news/National/Royal-couple-wow-Sydneysiderss/2005/03/02/1109700540944.html