Australians are about to witness something that hasn’t happened in decades, with Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary arriving this week. It will be the first official visit to Australia since Frederik X became King in 2024, and it also marks the first Danish head of state visit to Australia in nearly 40 years. Adding to the significance, it will be the first time a reigning Australian-born Queen has returned in an official capacity.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an honour to welcome the couple. “Denmark and Australia are great friends, and together we are working to build a more sustainable, secure and peaceful future,” he said in a statement. “This visit is an opportunity to deepen our cooperation across a number of shared interests such as sustainability, renewable energy and innovation. “Their Majesties, The King and Queen of Denmark, have a very special connection with Australia, and I know Australians will welcome them.”
The royal couple is due to arrive on Saturday (March 14) for a six-day visit, departing next Thursday (March 19). Queen Mary was last in Australia in February 2025 in an unofficial capacity, when she was spotted in Hobart, and she also visited in 2024 with her twins, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.
Their itinerary will take them to the Northern Territory, the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania, where Queen Mary was born. In Canberra, they will receive a 21-gun salute, meet Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and visit federal parliament. The tour is also expected to include a formal state banquet. In Tasmania, the couple will have the chance to revisit Hobart, including places linked to Queen Mary’s upbringing, as well as time with family and friends.
They won’t be travelling alone. The King and Queen are bringing a delegation of 55 Danish companies as they promote the “Partnering for a Green, Secure and Sustainable Tomorrow” initiative. “Green transition will be a key focus of the visit,” the Danish royal website said. “The initiative is intended to promote cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and energy-efficient urban development. “A strengthened partnership with Australia is particularly important at a time when geopolitical shifts have economic and security implications that link developments in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. “Building on the strategic partnership between Australia and Denmark signed in 2023, the state visit aims to enhance cooperation across a broad range of areas, including the green transition and economic security.”
