Queen Mary waves as she touches down in the Northern Territory
Australian-born Queen Mary touched down in the Northern Territory on a visit with her husband King Frederik X, marking the first state visit by any Danish monarch in 40 years.
It is Queen Mary’s first visit to the country since her husband ascended to the Danish throne.
The royal family touched down in the Northern Territory on Saturday afternoon and Queen Mary waved to waiting media as she stepped off the plane at Ayers Rock Airport.
She wore a stylish long white skirt with a colorful blouse and brown belt.
They will visit the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Cultural Center.
They will be welcomed by Aṉangu senior, the traditional landowners of the park.
There the royal couple will learn about the creation of the land.
The couple, who met in true fairytale style at Sydney’s Ship Inn Hotel at the 2000 Olympics, touched down in Perth on Friday evening for the first official visit by any Danish monarch in 40 years.
They said in a social media post Friday night that they were looking forward to the visit.
Accompanied by the anthem of Men at Work’s Land Down Under, the post said: “On the road! We were looking forward to reuniting with the population of Australia and the entire country.”
“A lot has happened since we met here over 25 years ago! See you soon, Australia!”
The royal couple’s first tour in 13 years will also include stops in Canberra and Melbourne, where they will meet the Prime Minister and attend a state dinner in their honour.
It will end in Hobart, where Mary was born and spent most of her childhood.
They will be joined by a delegation of 55 Danish businesses.
Mary and Frederik made four state visits to Australia in 2013, 2011, 2008 and 2005, but this was their first since they were crowned King and Queen in 2024 following the abdication of her mother, Queen Margrethe.
The Queen last visited Australia alone in April 2023.
The couple met at the Slip Inn bar during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and later married in May 2004.
They have four children: 20-year-old Crown Prince Christian, 18-year-old Princess Isabella, and 15-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
More to come…
