EXCLUSIVE: Very pointed praise for the Olympics from Princess Mary of Denmark who is in Rio despite Games being snubbed by Wills and Kate

The most high-profile royal visitor to the Olympic Games has spoken pointedly of how 'positive' it is to be be in Rio de Janierio.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has described the prospect of watching the Olympics in Rio as 'so exciting' and told Daily Mail Online that her time in Brazil has been 'positive so far'.

She is present in Rio despite the decision by Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge not to go. 

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Proud visitor: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark went to one of the poorest areas of Rio de Janiero at the start of a long stay in the country for the Games

International gesture: Crown Princess Mary brought Lego sets for children in the Jacarepague shantytown - or favela - as part of an effort to ensure the Games have a legacy

Getting down to hit: The Australian-born royal, who has four children of her own, presented the children with some of the thousands of Lego sets being donated by Denmark to Brazil

They're naturals: 'I don't know how much exposure they had to it before [to Lego] but they just go straight to building, using it,' Mary said

Praise: Mary, who is accompanying her husband, Crown Prince Frederik to Rio, said: 'It has also been great to see the beautiful country, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, that Brazil is.'

The Australian-born royal, 44, was speaking during a visit to a school in Rio's Jacarepague shanytown - or favela - where she presented boxes of Lego to the children. 

'It's been a very positive experience like the trips we've had to Brazil with Danish business delegations and so forth,' she said.

'And it has also been great to see the beautiful country, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, that Brazil is.'

She added: 'We do have a lot of expectations for the Olympics – it's so exciting when the Games start, so I'm looking forward to Friday [opening ceremony].

'We're looking forward to following the Danish athletes of course, but as well all the athletes of the world and the amazing performances they'll put in.'

Playtime: Mary is in Brazil because her husband is head of the Danish Olympic delegation. The country has donated Lego toys to help ensure a legacy from the two weeks of sport

Warmth: Children at the school are from the slums surrounding it. None appeared to have played with Lego before - but quickly caught on 

Legacy: Denmark is wanting to help generate a lasting legacy for the Rio games with gifts of toys to children in Jacarepagua, one of Rio's poorest areas

Support: As well as cheering on Danish athletes, the Australian-born royal said she would support her native country's, as long as they were not up against a Dane

Mary, and her husband Crown Prince Frederik, 48, are among a handful of royals to travel to Rio for the Olympics, after others pulled out citing fears over security and the Zika virus.

William and Kate had been expected to visit Rio, having been high-profile supporters of Britain's athletes at London 2012, but, along with Prince Harry, confirmed they would not be traveling last month.

Former Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene of Monaco, 38, also declined to travel to Brazil for the games but her husband Prince Albert, 58, is in Brazil as part of his work as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Fellow IOC member Princess Anne, of Britain, has also traveled to Brazil, although her daughter Zara Tindall has not, having missed out on being selected for the British eventing team this year.

Fears over Zika were not enough to put off the Danish royals, however, with an aide telling Daily Mail Online that 'life must go on'.

'Yes, we thought about it [Zika] but life must go on and the Olympics are important,' he said. 'The Crown Prince [Frederik] is the head of the [Danish] Olympic delegation after all.'

When asked to give her thoughts on the Zika outbreak, Crown Princess Mary declined to comment.

She did, however, reveal that she won't be supporting her native Australia during the competition and will be throwing her support behind her adopted country, Denmark.

'I'll absolutely support Australians so long as they're not competing against a Dane,' she said, adding that her cheers will be all for the Danes.

Laughing, she added: 'But it would be great to get gold [for the Danes] and silver [for the Australians].'

The Danish team may need far more support than the Australian. Its biggest star is tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, while other athletes include Eskild Ebbeson, a lightweight rower and track cyclist Lasse Norman Hansen.

The princess, who was elegant in an ivory tweed dress and a matching pair of two-tone pumps, was in Jacarepagua as part of an initiative to mark Denmark's participation in the Olympic Games.

Lego expert: The Danish toy is probably the country's best-known export. 'They're more interested in making their own stuff out of it and that's what Lego is all about. Building your own world,' the Crown Princess said.

International welcome: Children at the school in the favela waved Danish and Brazilian flags as the wife of the heir to the Danish throne arrived

Welcome visitor: Crown Princess Mary was greeted by an honor guard of children from the shantytown

Not there: Despite her enthusiasm for the London games and a meeting with British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie last month, the Duchess of Cambridge, her husband Prince William and his brother Prince Harry are not going to zika-hit Rio.

Working together: Crown Prince Frederik is at the Games as head of the Danish Olympic delegation and was accompanied by his wife at the opening of the Danish 'house' in Rio

Also there: Denmark's Princess Marie and her husband Prince Joachim are seen with their children at the opening of the Danish Pavilion

As part of the legacy Escolas de Amanha project, the Danish government has donated 5,000 sets of the Danish toy Lego to impoverished schools in Rio – some of which were handed over by the royal during a short ceremony in the playground.

Afterwards, Mary toured the school and settled down to play with some of the children – declaring herself impressed with their knack for figuring out what to do with the toy bricks.

'I don't know how much exposure they had to it before [the Lego] but they just go straight to building, using it,' she said of the children.

'I mean there's an instructions book saying here's step one, step two, step three, step four but they're more interested in making their own stuff out of it and that's what Lego is all about. Building your own world.'

The Danish royal contingent, which also includes Prince Joachim, 47, and his glamorous French wife Marie, 40, arrived in Brazil on Sunday – along with many of the country's athletes.

Although Mary will only stay until August 6, Crown Prince Frederik is expected to remain in Rio until the end of the Olympic Games and is to take part in events promoting Danish business, culture and sport.

Yesterday, the Danish royals descended en masse on the Visit Denmark pavilion on Ipanema Beach, where Frederik cut the ribbon and officially opened the house.

The temporary structure, officially named 'Heart of Denmark', was designed by architect Henning Larsen and will showcase Danish brands and culture for the duration of the Games.