Danish King Frederik and Queen Mary have arrived in Canberra as part of their Australian tour, attending a state dinner at Government House.
The royals touched down in the capital on Sunday afternoon after visiting the Muṯitjulu Waterhole at Uluru on the second day of their tour.
The couple’s six-day visit is aimed at strengthening cultural, economic and foreign policy relations between the two countries.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn (right) and her husband Simeon Beckett (left) with Danish King Frederik and Queen Mary at Government House. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
It is their first visit to Australia, Queen Mary’s birthplace, since they were crowned king and queen in 2024.
The event at Government House began with a 21-gun salute and informal conversation before the state dinner later in the evening.
Military parade, dinner begin Canberra visit
The royals were greeted first on the lawns of Government House by a group comprising Governor-General Sam Mostyn, her husband Simeon Beckett, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his wife Jodie Haydon, and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.
King Frederik surveys military personnel in Canberra on his first day in the Australian capital. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
After the pair signed the visitor’s book, Ms Mostyn told the king and queen she “couldn’t be more delighted” to welcome them to Australia.
She said the two countries had many shared values, including an interest in “sustainability, in climate change, in renewable energy”.
“And we have an economic relationship which we’re hoping will deepen during your visit,” Ms Mostyn said.
She thanked King Frederik for bringing “a strong delegation of your business people who I hope will join with the Australian businesses on your visit here to develop a deeper relationship particularly with renewable energy and public design and architecture into the public space”.
The Danish king and queen met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House after arriving in Canberra. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
Ms Mostyn said it was “wonderful” to welcome Queen Mary back to the country of her birth.
“I think all Australians are filled with joy that you are returning as Queen of Denmark,” she told the royal.
“Everyone is full of love and joy and I think from the moment you mentioned the [words] ‘I’m home’ yesterday from Uluru, Australians became very excited.”
Later in the evening, King Frederik spoke at the state dinner about the significance of his marriage.
“Once upon a time, perhaps, Denmark did not resonate so much with Australia, but then something changed,” he said to laughter.
“In 2004, your Mary and I married, and with that Denmark once again had a Crown Princess.
“From that moment on, everyone Down Under knew of the Nordic country Up Over.”
The king said Australia had held a “special place in his heart” ever since he “slipped into that bar” and met his future wife.
The Danish king and queen arrive at Government House with Australian dignitaries. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
He said his visit to Uluru had reminded him of the importance of “living in harmony with nature, not at its expense, but by its grace”.
“In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel small and finite,” he said.
“And the profound spiritual bond between the First Nations peoples and their land becomes crystal clear.
“Whenever I visit Greenland, it is evident that sustainability is not an optional extra; it is part of the very foundation of life, as it has been for generations of strong and proud Inuit living from the Arctic land and sea.”
Trip focuses on renewables, climate change
Queen Mary said they had been “warmly welcomed” since arriving in the country.
Queen Mary of Denmark at Government House during a tour of Australia with her husband, King Frederik. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
“We’ve been so much looking forward to this trip,” she said.
“As a former Australian, there is something special about coming back to the place I was born and grew up and had a large part of my adult life.
“And to be remembered is nothing that should be taken for granted.”
She said the countries shared “so many common interests and values”.
“Our societies are very similar in many ways,” she said.
“And of course the focus of our trip is on renewable energies, climate change and many other strategic projects and ideas.”
During the state dinner, Ms Mostyn said Australia and Denmark had always been “like-minded partners” on a number of issues.
“I want to thank you, Your Majesties, for your focus on this historic trip, on growing the economic and investment links between our two nations, particularly in renewable and green transition and energy-efficient urban development,” Ms Mostyn said.
Danish King Frederik and Governor-General Sam Mostyn during the royal tour in Canberra. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
The governor-general said she had attended the 3GF conference in Copenhagen alongside King Frederik 10 years earlier, which had also focused on environmental sustainability.
The conference explored ways to “meet the urgency of the sustainability and climate change challenge,” Ms Mostyn said.
“It was uplifting and a serious commitment to action at scale and speed, and it was a decade ago,”
she said.
“I reflect now how more advanced in energy transition and engagement with nature we might be if the recommendations of that forum had been really enthusiastically taken up across the globe.”