Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have arrived in Australia for a six-day official visit.
The royal couple touched down in Perth on Friday afternoon to begin their jam-packed itinerary, which includes official engagements, cultural experiences, and opportunities to meet local communities.
The historic visit marks Mary’s first return to her homeland since she became Queen in January 2024, the first by any Danish monarch in 40 years.
Their first stop will be at Uluru on Saturday, where the royals will meet with Indigenous elders and watch the sunset.
Their visit to the Red Centre mirrors previous trips by the British royals but will focus on Denmark’s particular interests.
From the Northern Territory, they will travel to Canberra for official engagements and meetings with government representatives, including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Australian government has announced there will be opportunity for the public to see the Danish royals at Canberra’s Australian War Memorial on Monday.
The tour will also take them to Melbourne, where they will attend a state banquet and events highlighting Denmark-Australia relations.
Queen Mary has arrived in Australia with her husband for a six-day visit
Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark (pictured) quietly touched down in Perth on Friday
The couple will travel to Uluru, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart in the coming days
They will then travel to Queen Mary’s home state of Tasmania, where she will visit her old school in Hobart and other hometown sites, where she still has family.
They will also inspect shipbuilder Incat, which is constructing two battery-electric ferries for Denmark, the country’s largest export contract from Tasmania to date.
The ferries are intended to carry passengers and cars while reducing carbon emissions, representing Denmark’s interest in sustainable transport.
As the royals touched down in Perth, their official Instagram page shared photos of the couple early in their relationship, which began after they met during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
‘On the way! We have been greatly looking forward to seeing Australia and the people of the whole country again,’ the post, accompanied by iconic Aussie anthem Down Under from Men At Work, read.
‘A lot has happened since we last met here more than 25 years ago!’
More than 50 Danish business leaders will accompany the royal couple on their Australian tour.
The Danish royals are promoting industry and trade ties during their visit, highlighting clean energy and urban development.
The Danish royals (pictured in Perth on Friday) will travel to Uluru on Saturday
The royals previously toured Australia in 2013, 2011, 2008 and in 2005
The royals (pictured in 2005) met in Australia during the 2000 Sydney Olympics
‘The state visit will further develop the already strong relations between Australia and Denmark, both culturally, economically and in foreign policy,’ a statement from the palace read.
‘A strengthened partnership with Australia is particularly important at a time when geopolitical upheavals have economic and security policy consequences that bind developments in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region together.
“Building on the strategic partnership that was entered into between Australia and Denmark in 2023, the state visit will strengthen co-operation in a wide range of areas, including green transition and economic security
It’s the couple’s first visit together in Australia in 13 years. Queen Mary was last here in 2023.
Queen Mary, originally from Tasmania, attended high school in Hobart before moving to Denmark after meeting Frederik.
The couple met in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics, striking up a friendship at the CBD bar The Slip Inn.
They married in 2004 and have made several official and private visits to Australia since.
Previous visits have involved introducing their children – Christian, 20, Isabella, 18, and 15-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine, to Australia.
More than 50 Danish business leaders will accompany the royal couple on their Australian tour.
The Danish couple married in 2004, almost four years after they first met
The arrival follows speculation that their original travel plans were impacted by flight disruptions caused by escalating violence and unrest in the Middle East.
The Danish Royal House confirmed to Danish publication B.T. earlier in the week that they had to make ‘a few adjustments’ to the travel plans.
There are also fears that the worst flooding Central Australia has seen in decades may disrupt the first leg of their visit on Saturday.