Danish monarchs King Frederik X and Queen Mary’s Australian tour will follow in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Photograph: Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDanish monarchs King Frederik X and Queen Mary’s Australian tour will follow in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Photograph: Getty ImagesDanish royals Frederik and Mary begin Australia tour in red centreSix-day tour includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart and aims to deepen trade ties
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Danish royals Frederik and Mary have kicked off their first trip to Australia since taking the throne in the nation’s red centre.
The six-day state tour, which includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart, aims to deepen trade ties between Queen Mary’s adopted and home countries.
The royal couple exchanged handshakes with Anangu traditional owners at Uluru Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre after touching down late on Saturday.
The normally arid desert region was a sea of green after weeks of heavy rain soaked the outback tourist site, sending waterfalls cascading down the famous rock.
View image in fullscreenDenmark’s King Frederik X and Queen Mary in front of Uluru at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDenmark’s Queen Mary, right, watches a ceremonial song and dance at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre at Uluru. Photograph: David Gray/EPAThe monarchs made their way into the cultural centre for a guided tour during which they learned about the creation of the land and Anangu customs.
They also watched a ceremonial dance called Inma that connects the Aṉangu to their ancestors through song and dance.
Frederik and Mary also admired the sunset at the massive sandstone monolith with Indigenous elders, in a stop likely to draw comparisons with the 1983 British royal tour, when Princess Diana and then Prince Charles, now King, visited the culturally significant site.
The royal delegation is also here to do business and includes more than 50 Danish companies, with a focus on clean energy. Denmark’s deputy prime minister, and ministers for foreign affairs and climate will accompany the monarchs.
“Denmark and Australia share an interest in nature and cultural conservation and elements related to nature and culture will form part of the state visit,” a statement from the Royal House of Denmark reads.
The pair will also meet the governor general, Sam Mostyn, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon while here.
Mostyn will host a formal state dinner for the royals.
View image in fullscreenFrederik and Mary are escorted to Uluru by park rangers. Photograph: Getty ImagesFrederik and Mary were proclaimed Denmark’s ruling monarchs in a ceremony attracting wide fanfare in January 2024.
Formerly Mary Donaldson, the pair met during a chance encounter at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympic Games.
Then aged 28 and working in marketing, the future queen had no idea she had crossed paths with Denmark’s party-boy crown prince.
The last time the royals visited Australia officially was 13 years ago, making this their fourth tour together.
They are likely to spend time with Queen Mary’s relatives in Tasmania, including her elderly father John Donaldson.
King Frederik and Queen Mary’s four children, Crown Prince Christian, 20, Princess Isabella, 18, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine,15, are unlikely to join their parents on the tour.
