Five years ago, Alexandra Manley, a beautiful young British-Asian businesswoman from Hong Kong, won Danish hearts when she married Queen Margrethe’s younger son, Prince Joachim, in a fairytale winter wedding.

Today, 36-year-old Princess Alexandra, happily married with a devoted and supportive husband, and mother of 19-month-old Prince Nikolai, is one of the most popular members of the Danish royal family, due to her blend of friendly informality and royal presence.

She spoke exclusively to HELLO! in the Christian VIII Palace at the Amalienborg, where the young family has an apartment.

Your life now has many restrictions as well as opportunities. What is the greatest sacrifice you’ve made?
“The freedom I’ve had to give up; not being able to open my front door in Copenhagen and go for a walk when I want. Nobody says I can’t but it isn’t done to be seen doing certain things. I accept that.”
How has your son changed your life?
“Completely. There is this little being who takes over your life, to the extent that there is unconditional love. I never realised it could be so powerful until I had my son. From the moment I see his smile in the morning until I put him to bed at night, he brightens my day in a way no-one else can. My work and duties are the same – in that sense he hasn’t taken over my life completely but I make sure, if I can, to be there to put him to bed. If I’m not working, I spend my free time with him.”
What sort of mother are you?
“Very loving and caring. I want to be a mother in touch with the times rather than old-fashioned, stiff and staid. When my son comes home from school, I want to know about computer games, the latest books – I want to understand what he’s talking about. I want to live his world with him, play with him, run around with him, laugh and joke with him.”
Do you miss your life in Hong Kong?
“I’m very good at getting on with the present. I didn’t miss Hong Kong as much as I thought. I threw myself into learning about the culture here. I felt settled here when I made my own friends. After two years, I’ve created a lovely life for myself. I’ve made wonderful friends, I’ve done up our place into a welcoming home. I go to Hong Kong once a year and try to stay for five or six weeks. If you’ve left a past life behind, it’s hard to go there for just two weeks. There are so many people I want to see – both my sisters live there. But when I leave, I’m ready to come back here. I don’t feel I’ve left something behind in Hong Kong when I come back to Denmark.”