MARY'S 50th BIRTHDAY RUINED!

With a cancelled party and potential family crisis, the Danish royal is under pressure

For most of her marriage, Princess Mary has been all too aware of her position in the pecking order at Amalienborg Palace.

Despite being the favourite royal among Danes, the dazzling Aussie has always respectfully stood to the side to allow full focus on her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, and husband, Prince Frederik.

But for one night only – the occasion of her 50th birthday on February 5 – the family had planned a show-stopping celebration of the jewel in their crown to honour both Mary’s milestone year and tireless dedication to the crown in the past 18 years.

“Frederik and his mother, together with Mary’s kids, had been working for months to plan an amazing gala dinner for her 50th,” a source tells Woman’s Day. “They planned an epic degustation menu, music, dancing, and Fred had already put the finishing touches on a beautiful speech.”

Hundreds of guests, including European royalty, Mary’s Aussie siblings and her Scotland-based dad were due to fly into Copenhagen for the glamorous event within the historic Rosenborg Castle.