It was seemingly a good story: Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik was refused entry to a Brisbane bar because of the state's ID laws.
But the story was too good to be true, according to Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart, who laid out the "plain and simple" facts of what happened on Friday night at the Jade Buddha nightclub.
![Crown Prince Frederik, pictured with Crown Princess Mary, was not denied entry to a Brisbane club according to ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170825085918im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/2/g/0/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gy1tc0.png/1503389684084.jpg)
"The security personnel approached the nightclub on two different occasions," he said on Tuesday afternoon following a day of controversy and debate.
"On the second occasion they were put in touch with senior management (at Jade Buddha) and I understand there was an agreement for the prince to enter.
"The prince at no time was party to those conversations and wasn't even present when the security personnel made those arrangements.
"Subsequent to that, the prince and the rest of his security detail arrived at the premises and they were facilitated into the premises, where I understand the prince enjoyed his time and left without incident."
News Corp had reported the prince and his entourage were turned away from Jade Buddha just before midnight on Friday, returning 15 minutes later with officers from Queensland Police Service's dignitary protection unit and was then allowed in.
Jade Buddha's owner Phil Hogan told the publication he intervened to let the prince enter, and said the new ID scanning laws were an issue.
![The Danish Crown Prince went to Jade Buddha at Brisbane's Eagle Street Pier to catch up with mates, the police ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170825085918im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/1/9/b/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gy1tc0.png/1503394417584.jpg)
"It's a stupid law. We always thought it was going to be a nightmare," he said.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg with the prince. It's happening all the time with normal people."
![Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart said it was normal for someone of Crown Prince Frederik's status to not ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170825085918im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/1/u/a/k/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gy1tc0.png/1503389684084.jpg)
But Mr Stewart said that kind of security arrangement to help dignitaries enter venues was a normal procedure and was used regularly during the G20 summit in 2014.
"Our officers simply followed normal protocol in ensuring his safety," he said.
Far from causing a diplomatic incident, Mr Stewart said it was just "embarrassing" the misinformation had spread in the first place.
"The prince wouldn't have been aware of the actual discussions his security personnel had with the staff at the Jade Buddha," he said.
Mr Stewart added it would have been highly unusual for someone of Prince Frederik's status to be asked to produce identification.
"It is very unusual that you would take a person of that status and ask them to produce a driver's licence," he said.
While police did not normally talk about those sorts of security measures, Mr Stewart said he thought it was important to set the record straight.
"The philosophy of bringing these tough laws in around scanning is based on one premise, and that is to make sure we deter people entering licensed premises in particular who might be intent on doing harm to others," he said.
"The club certainly knew that his royal highness was who he was .... certainly my understanding that they had no concern as long as we vouched for his bona fides."
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the state's ID scanning laws were simple and effective, and she hoped the prince visited again soon.
"He visited several licensed venues on Friday night and I'm sure he had a wonderful time in our vibrant city," she said.
The prince was in Queensland for the Hamilton Island Race Week, which runs until Saturday, reportedly not accompanied by his Tasmanian-born wife Princess Mary.