Princess Mary prepares to become Queen of Denmark

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has taken on the duties of a queen after Danish Queen Margrethe signed over some of her power to the Australian-born royal.

Queen Margrethe has given Mary, 47, the authority to take over her queenly duties at events and engagements the 79-year-old monarch is unable to attend.

The historic move will effectively prepare Mary to one day take over the role of queen completely, and that day may be coming sooner, rather than later.

Since the death of Queen Margrethe's husband, Prince Henrik, in February last year, the aging monarch has been passing more responsibility to Mary and her husband, Crown Prince Frederik.

The couple, who recently celebrated 15 years of marriage, are next in line to ascend to the Danish throne and become the nation's King and Queen ¨C though many Danes already see Mary as a ruler.

"[Mary is] already the de facto Queen in many people's eyes," a royal insider told New Idea in May.

?"The Queen is slowly handing over some duties to Frederik and Mary, and she sees the future of the royal family is in safe hands."

Queen Margrethe officially signed across the new responsibilities to Mary this week, the royal family sharing a photo of the occasion to Instagram.

Both dressed in red, the current and future Queen smiled as they sat on either side of Prince Frederik.

?"As regent, The Crown Princess will, from now on, be able to attend to The Queen's duties as head of state when The Queen is prevented from doing so, for example during a stay abroad," the palace said in a statement.

During a visit to a school near Copenhagen, Mary said that she was "very proud" to have been given the new responsibilities by the queen.