Why Princess Mary of Denmark was a no-show at the Queen's funeral: Aussie-born royal was UNINVITED after the British Foreign Office made a 'regrettable error' - sparking outrage in Denmark

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The Danish royal family was forced to leave Princess Mary at home after her invite to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was rescinded just days before due to a 'regrettable error' from the British Foreign Office. 

Eagle-eyed royal commentators noted the distinct absence of the Australian-born Mary despite her husband Prince Frederik and mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II sitting in the front row of Westminster Abbey which was packed with royalty from around the world.

The Danish royal family was expected to attend in full force after they made an official announcement on September 13 but six days later Mary, the 50-year-old mother-of-four, was nowhere to be seen. 

'HM The Queen and the Crown Prince Couple [will be] present at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022 at Westminster Abbey in London, Great Britain,' the statement last week said.

Princess Mary's initial invitation to the funeral on Monday was made in error according to a statement from the Danish royals.

'There has been a regrettable error in the invitation from the British Foreign Office's protocol. It is thus only the Queen and the Crown Prince who, from the Danish side, will participate in Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on Monday,' The Royal house confirmed to Danish tabloid BT.

Every royal family and dignitary invited was permitted to bring one extra person with them, which is likely the reason why Mary was excluded. 

Eagle-eyed royal commentators have noted the distinct absence of Australian-born Princess Mary of Denmark at the Queen's funeral

The Danish royal family were said to be attending in full force when they made an official announcement on September 13 but six days later the 50-year-old mother-of-four was nowhere to be seen

Photos and video footage shot at the funeral showed Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe - now the only reigning Queen left in the world - sitting opposite King Charles III and his family on Monday

BT's royal correspondent Jacob Heinel Jensen said the Danish royal house would have been 'upset' by the eleventh hour change.

'It's really clumsy and unfortunate... It has meant that the Royal House must now say that a mistake had been made, and that is embarrassing,' he said.

'I think the Royal House easily understands that a mistake has been made. I wondered myself when I was in London and the British media wrote that there were only two invitees per country. 

'After all, you got the feeling that there really must be extra close ties between Denmark and Britain's royal house if we got three invitations.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Danish royal family for further comment. 

The last time she was seen: Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at Christiansborg palace for the gala diner during the 50 years anniversary of Her Queen Margrethe II of Denmark accession to the throne on September 10

Hundreds of emperors, kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and other foreign dignitaries were in London for Her Majesty's state funeral at Westminster Abbey. 

Representatives of more than 20 Royal Families were at the funeral, including the reigning monarchs of the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. 

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, who rarely makes overseas visits, was among the guests along with King Jigme & Queen Jetsun of Bhutan and the Sultan of Brunei. 

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, were among the first monarchs to view the monarch lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

Queen Margrethe held a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and was among the first international monarch to pay tribute to Her Majesty.

She was also spotted shedding a tear in front of the Queen's coffin before the funeral on Monday. 

Both Queens are great-great granddaughters of Queen Victoria - making them third cousins - with Margrethe often looking up to Elizabeth like a big sister.   

In May, Margrethe told the UK's ITV news that Elizabeth, 14 years her senior, was a 'huge inspiration' to her as the only other living Queen.

With the death of Elizabeth II, Margrethe II of Denmark has become the only living Queen in the world

'[Queen Elizabeth] was 26 when she became Queen. When I was growing up, I hoped I wouldn't be as young as that when my father died. It made an enormous impression on me. The fact that she was dedicating her life. I understood what that meant. This is for life. That is the whole point of my life. And I know she sees that too,' she said. 

'When I was growing up, my mother and father said to me, "look at what they do in England" and I could see that it could be done and it was worthwhile and you could live a very full life with it, even with a heavy schedule and demanding job.'

The mother-of-two added that both Queens see their roles as 'dedication' and 'a job' and the way that Elizabeth 'faced her duties' 'inspired her'.

'The way she has faced her duties, the way she has dedicated her life, and she does it with a smile. She has been through many things,' she added. 

'When you get to my age, you don't have the emptiness, what am I going to do tomorrow? I know jolly well what I am going to do tomorrow, and the next day, and the following year.'

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has lead the foreign royals paying tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96. They are pictured in 2000 at London's Natural History Museum

The pair, also had sweet nicknames for one another. Margrethe called Elizabeth by her childhood nickname 'Lilibet' while Elizabeth called Margrethe 'Daisy'.

The Danish monarch is known as 'Aunt Daisy' to many in her family as she was named after her grandmother, Princess Margareta of Sweden, and her name is similar to the Nordic word for the daisy flower.

'We are definitely affectionate, but I don't want to splash it all over the place,' she told ITV of Elizabeth II.

The pair also have a love of dogs in common. While Elizabeth will forever be associated with corgis, Margrethe is known in Denmark for her love of dogs.

While Elizabeth got her first corgi as a child, it was Margrethe's late husband Prince Henrik who introduced her to dachshunds. 

The Danish royal family, including Hobart-born Mary, shared a close connection with Elizabeth. Pictured in 2016

Margrethe was also among the first royals to pay tribute to the Queen upon her death last week. 

In a statement she wished the new King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla her 'deepest thoughts and prayers' after Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral.

Speaking on behalf of the Danish family she was 'deeply moved' by the sad news of her 'beloved mother's death'.

'I send you and Camilla my warmest thoughts and prayers,' she said.

'She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all. We shall miss her terribly.

'Her 70 years of reign and service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth are an unprecedented and remarkable achievement.

In February, Margrethe and Mary, met with Kate Middleton, who and officially welcomed her to Copenhagen

'She was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all. We shall miss her terribly,' she wrote

'We shall always remember her important contributions to their development and prosperity.'

The Danish royal family, including Hobart-born Princess Mary, shared a close connection with Queen Elizabeth.

In February, Margrethe and Mary met with Kate Middleton, and officially welcomed her to Copenhagen. 

Mary has also previously attended Royal Ascot horse race with the Queen and Prince Edward.