The Alannah and Madeline Foundation was fortunate to have Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark attend two of its functions on Saturday, 26 November 2011.

As International Patron of the Foundation, Crown Princess Mary joined key business leaders and philanthropists from around Australia at the eSmart Luncheon at the Hume Global Learning Centre, Broadmeadows, to discuss eSmart's exciting new phase - eSmart libraries and community hubs.

Students and teachers from local school Mount Ridley College, Craigieburn, were chosen to attend the luncheon to represent the Foundation's two prevention programs, Better Buddies and eSmart.

The school's buddy pairs, made up of prep and grade four students, lined the 'purple carpet' and were greeted by The Crown Prince Couple upon arrival, along with the Hon. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia and the Hon. Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria. They wore purple Foundation T-shirts and held up 'welcome' signs they had made during their buddy activities; some signs were written in the students' native language and were very bright and colourful.

Most had the opportunity to meet The Crown Prince Couple; saying hello and shaking their hands, while one special buddy pair was selected to present gifts (flowers and little Buddy Bears) to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

Older buddy Caleb Baker said, "At the start I was nervous but then I got used to it as she came down the aisle. She was very nice and she looked really pretty and all that."

Prep student Tahlia Cheail (pictured below) was very lucky to get her photograph taken with Crown Princess Mary during the media and photo opportunity that followed the official arrival and afterwards, you couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

After the media opportunity, 15 year seven and eight students were upstairs in the library to talk to the official party about eSmart and cybersafety.

The Foundation thanks Mount Ridley College for their participation on the day and for showing our special guests the positive impact our prevention programs are making in schools.

 Picture: Better Buddies prep student Tahlia Cheail meets Crown Princess Mary.