Princess Mary's Christmas Anguish

Her dad steps in as she struggles to deal with the strain of rumours and being so far from home.

A source close to the Danish royal family tells New Idea that the usually publicity-shy John Dalgleish Donaldson has been very concerned about Mary in recent months and felt he needed to show the family’s support.

“Mary’s dad has been really worried about her since all the nasty rumours about her divorce surfaced and wanted to be by her side,” says a source close to Mary’s family. “He hates to think of her going through such scrutiny with no family around her, so he really wanted to spend some time with her and make sure Mary’s OK.”

John – and Mary’s stepmother Susan Moody – were present with Mary, Frederik and their children at the Danish Music Conservatory Children’s Choir Christmas concert on Dec. 8.

While, like Mary, he smiled broadly for official photographs, when caught off guard John appeared as strained and downcast as his royal daughter.