Copenhagen - The Danish royal family was due to strengthen its French ties with the wedding on Saturday of Prince Joachim and French-born Marie Cavallier.

The couple met at a private shooting party in Denmark in the autumn of 2002 but they did not experience love at first sight.

Those feelings started to blossom "sometime in the spring of 2005," the 38-year-old prince said in October 2007 on the announcement of their engagement.

Joachim's father, Prince Henrik, was born in France as Henri Marie Jean André Count de Laborde de Monpezat and married Queen Margrethe in 1967.

In a recent interview, the future princess, who will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Marie, has said she felt a little embarassed over not being able to speak Danish yet, but hoped that living in Denmark will help the process.

Prince Joachim's former wife, Hong Kong-born Alexandra Manley, charmed Danes with her ability to master the language in a short period.

Prince Joachim, 38, divorced Alexandra Manley in April 2005. She has since remarried but they have joint custody of their sons Nikolai and Felix.

Cavallier, 32, gets on well with the two boys, who are to accompany their father to the wedding ceremony.

In a documentary broadcast by public broadcaster DR, Cavallier, said she was preparing for a big change in her life, and there is lots to learn or become familiar with, for instance Danish history, culture and religion, and not the least the Danish language.

The royal couple have said they plan to live at Schakenborg Manor in southern Jutland where Prince Joachim runs an estate.

Asked what it takes to be a princess, the prince said, while looking at his future bride: "It takes an open mind, which you have, an open heart which you also have."

He added it included "liking to meet new people, to embrace new cultures, to adapt to any situation."

Cavallier added, diplomatically, "I think it takes a lot of diplomacy."

Copenhagen Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen, who in 2004 married prince Joachim's older brother Crown Prince Frederik and Australian-born Mary Donaldson, was to officiate at the wedding at Mogeltonder church near Schakenborg Manor.

The same church was also used for the christening of Prince Joachim's son Felix in October 2004. The church is some 800 years old and the church organ from 1679 is said to be the oldest still in use in Denmark.

Several hundred guests were later slated to attend a private wedding banquet at the manor. The food was to be prepared by members of the Danish national culinary team. Prince Joachim is their patron.

Like other foreign-born princesses, Cavallier will assume Danish citizenship on her wedding day. (dpa)