Princess Mary enjoys getting older

Denmark's Crown Princess Mary loves getting older and wasn't worried about turning 40 earlier this month.

Denmark's Crown Princess Mary loves getting older.

The brunette royal - who has four children with husband Crown Prince Frederik - turned 40 on February 5 and insists she wasn't worried about reaching the milestone.

She said: "I think getting older is great. I don't think of my physical age. I'm in a wonderful phase of my life. As a 40 year old, you just know so much more what life is about."

Australian Mary also says she's has grown more confident over the years and is comfortable with her role in the Danish royal family.

She told the Berlingske newspaper: "One challenge is being a public person. Being discussed. People have an opinion about the way you move, what you say, how your hair looks. You feel very exposed. I've never been a person who sought to be at the centre of things. It was always my friends who were at the centre - and I enjoyed watching them.

"I had no experience for this role, so I felt I had to convince everyone: 'I promise you - I can handle this.' So there have been doubt and insecurity. I've covered them up well, though, because there aren't many people who'd believe that I can be insecure."