A Tale of Two Christmases: Aarhus and Byron Bay

It was a tale of two Christmases for Denmark's royals this year. While Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik attended church in Aarhus, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary were tens of thousands of miles away in Australia spending the festive season with her family.

Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik leaving church in Aarhus on Christmas Eve 2015

Margethe wrapped up warm for the Christmas Eve service. She and Henrik were joined by Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and their two children, Henrik and Athena. Marie rocked a red coat in keeping with the spirit of the season and the gathering gloom of a late December evening added a sense of Christmas to the whole scene.

Princess Marie of Denmark holds her daughter's hand as they leave church in Aarhus with Prince Joachim on Christmas Eve 2015

But in Australia, it was very different. In warm weather and with not a hope of a snowflake in sight, Crown Princess Mary went hot with her fashion appearing in a bright yellow shirt and white shorts as she walked around parts of Byron Bay as Christmas Day approached. 

Princess Mary has a girls day out in hippie haven Byron Bay https://t.co/PnJ6mFbKx7 pic.twitter.com/aX1Rfkczhx

— Daily Mail Femail (@Femail) December 24, 2015

The decision of Frederik and Mary to spend Christmas with her family was seen as a bit of a surprise in some quarters and there has been lots of media attention in the royal stay in Australia, especially when Prince Christian had to be rescued by lifeguards when he was caught by a current while swimming off the Gold Coast earlier in December. This little royal family had Christmas Day with the princess' family and will head back to Denmark in time for the traditional New Year events. Two Christmases, one family and a traditional start to 2016.