Leuk artikeltje met wat quotes van de beste man (hij zegt weinig en komt toch vriendelijk over; een goede eigenschap voor een ex-vriend van een kroonprinses). Belangrijkste boodschap. Ik snap heel goed dat Denemarken zo blij met haar is, want ze is heel aardig en we zijn nog steeds goede vrienden:
A FORMER Hobart man who shared Mary Donaldson's life for seven years has told how he remains "good friends" with Denmark's new crown princess. But high-flying Melbourne public relations executive Brent Annells, the future Queen's former lover, did not attend last week's royal wedding in Copenhagen. Mr Annells dated Australia's new royal darling for seven years during the 1990s.
On Friday, he revealed they had stayed on friendly terms after their split and he spoke fondly of his former partner. Mr Annells, son of former Tasmanian tourism boss Bob Annells, was keen to avoid publicity but broke his silence after requests for an interview. The 33-year-old director of his family's St Kilda-based public relations firm was not surprised by Denmark's affection for its new princess. "She's a fantastic person," Mr Annells said. "She's very genuine, smart, honest and down-to-earth and I think the way she has been embraced by the Danish royal family is a clear reflection of that."
It is understood the couple's break-up was amicable. "The relationship we had over the seven years was effectively [over] four or five years ago and we've remained good friends," he said. A mutual friend of Mr Annells and Princess Mary said the couple had met at university. The woman, who attended the royal wedding, said: "They were a happy young university couple. They still hold each other in great standing. "He was invited to the wedding, but was unable to attend due to work commitments."
Mr Annells gave his best wishes to the royal couple. "I wish her and her partner every happiness," he said. Princess Mary spoke publicly about her relationship with Mr Annells in a documentary released on Danish television shortly before the wedding. "I had a boyfriend for seven years, but we drifted apart," she said.
She said her mother's sudden death in 1997 had been a catalyst for change in her life. Six months later she quit her advertising job in Melbourne and travelled around the world and it was then the relationship floundered, a Danish newspaper reported. The princess was with Mr Annells when she began her stint as an account manager with Melbourne advertising agency Mojo, one of her former colleagues said. Mr Annells and the then Ms Donaldson lived together in South Yarra during their relationship and had a joint business interest.
She was secretary of company Kingcash while Mr Annells was a director between 1993 and 1995. Mr Annells, like his former girlfriend, was born in Hobart and later moved to Melbourne. Mr Annells was selected in the junior Australian waterpolo squad in the late 1980s and won an AIS scholarship after impressive performances in the national waterpolo championships in Hobart in 1989. He attended the AIS in Canberra where he also studied communications and public relations at the Australian National University and the Canberra College of Advanced Education. Mr Annells was also a promising junior triathlete and surf lifesaver.
He works for family business Annells Consulting and has been involved in the start of a number of other companies. His father Bob Annells moved from Tasmania to Melbourne to be Tourism Victoria chief executive before taking on his current role as Connex Australia chairman.
Bron: The mercury