ATR members shared in the excitement when Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was recently announced as the new patron of the Australian Twin Registry and of the Danish Twin Registry.

The ATR’s Facebook lit up with hundreds of messages of support from excited ATR members and the registry’s website was inundated as people viewed photos and video of the princess enjoying her first official outing in her new role and meeting twins in Denmark.

ATR twins also appeared centre-stage at a huge media event held at the registry’s head office in Melbourne to announce the princess’s patronage and to highlight twin research.

“Everyone was thrilled about the princess’s involvement,” said Daniela Ahimastos, a twin and ATR member who spoke to the large media contingent. “She has raised awareness of twin research to a whole new level.”

The many pairs of cute ATR toddler twins dressed as princes and princesses – and waving the flags of Australia and Denmark – stole the show and appeared on TV news channels that night around Australia.

According to ATR Chair, Vince Pollaers, the Crown Princess is a fantastic ambassador for twin research.

“The Crown Princess hopes to combine her interests in health and scientific research, with her experience as a mother of twins, to contribute to raising awareness of twin research globally,” Mr Pollaers said.

“The Crown Princess’s patronage is also a vote of thanks to all of our twin volunteers, and acknowledgement of the important contribution they make,” he said.

See more photos of the ATR Melbourne media event and the Crown Princess meeting twins in Denmark at www.twins.org.au.

The Crown Princess hopes to combine her interests in health and scientific research, with her experience as a mother of twins, to contribute to raising awareness of twin research globally.

Photo:Junior ATR members in Melbourne wave the flags of Denmark and Australia to show the twin allegiances of their new patron.