Queen Mary and King Frederik are heading to Australia in March 2026 for their first official royal tour since becoming King and Queen.
We have a reporting team following their journey from Uluṟu to Canberra and beyond. Stay tuned for daily updates, comments from locals, and insights from the Prime Minister to our own diligent reporters.
Their Majesties first arrived in Perth for a brief stopover. There, they enjoyed morning tea with the Governor of Western Australia before continuing on to the Red Centre. Patrick Gorman MP farewelled Their Majesties in Perth.
The Administrator of the Northern Territory, David Connolly, and Ms Sue Brosnan OLY officially welcomed King Frederik X and Queen Mary to the Northern Territory in Yulara early Saturday afternoon.
Credit: The Administrator of the NT Instagram
You can find their official itinerary here.
Day 1: Uluṟu
Queen Mary and King Frederik are about to arrive
Genevieve Gannon is on-site at Uluṟu
There is light cloud cover over Uluṟu as The Weekly team touches down for the arrival of Their Majesties, Queen Mary and King Frederik X, on their first state tour of Australia since their coronation last January.
The Danish Royals are expected to arrive at the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Cultural Centre at 4.30 PM, where an Aṉangu representative will greet them. The Aṉangu are the traditional landowners of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.
The town square is filling up with media, as anticipation grows ahead of Queen Mary’s homecoming. The last time Queen Mary was in Australia on an official tour in 2023, she was Princess Mary, and in all likelihood had no idea she would soon be returning as Queen.
Uluṟu has five seasons, and the Danish Royals are arriving during Itjanu/inuntji when the red centre’s ceaseless blue sky is darkened by clouds, and winds bring cooler nighttime temperatures.
A spot of desert rain had just started to fall as the countdown to the royal arrival begins.
Queen Mary greets a young girl from Tasmania
Queen Mary and King Frederik have arrived, to the delight of two young fans from Tasmania, who scored a few moments with the homegrown Royal.
King Frederik X and Queen Mary are greeted by Aboriginal elders. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) / POOL
Their Majesties arrive. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) / POOL
Looking elegant in a long khaki skirt, tan ballet flats and a light-weight shirt, Queen Mary stopped for a chat.
“I’m from Tasmania,” one of the young girls announced as the royal entered the cultural centre.
“It’s nice to meet you. Is this your first time here?” Queen Mary said, with a subtle Danish accent.
This is Queen Mary’s first visit to Uluṟu.
Ceremonial song and dance
King Frederik and Queen Mary were welcomed to the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuta National Park cultural centre by Anangu representatives. The greeting was followed by a ceremonial song and dance.
Their majesties were all smiles for the performance. Queen Mary was even washing her fan to the beat of the song.
She was wearing an appropriate umbrella motif on her shirt, which she had to cover up with a raincoat as the drizzle set in. The weather did not dampen the day, however, as the Royals stayed after the performance to greet more locals and express how much they enjoyed the performance.
(Photo by David Gray – Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Gray – Pool/Getty Images)
Their Majesties watch a ceremonial song and dance. (Photo by David Gray – Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Mary smiles as she watches a ceremonial song and dance. (Photo by David Gray – Pool/Getty Images)
Sunset at Uluṟu
After the cultural centre, Their Majesties stopped in at the Kulata Academy Cafe, where they met trainees from the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA) and sampled a local mocktail.
Then they were on to Uluṟu for their final stop of the night.
King Frederik and Queen Mary are joined on this tour by some journalists from Denmark who are eager to cover their state visit to Australia, due to the significance of it being the Queen’s homecoming. Their majesties took two questions from the Danish press, which Mary answered in Danish. She confirmed that this was her first visit to Uluṟu and said that it was nice that she and Frederik could be here together.
Denmark’s King Frederik X (L) and Queen Mary (R) pose for photographs in front of Uluru or Ayers Rock at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre in Uluru on March 14, 2026 during their five-day state visit to Australia. (Photo by David GRAY / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
She was also asked what she has liked so far. Queen Mary answered that it was great to learn more about the culture and people’s connection to the land.
Queen Mary and King Frederik were guided by an Aṉangu local to a spot where they had hoped to view the sunset. Unfortunately, heavy cloud cover obscured the view, but Uluṟu was dazzling nonetheless.
The King and Queen share their daily wrap-up
After their first day, Their Majesties shared a post on the Danish Royal Family’s official Instagram page.
The comments on the post were flooded with Australians welcoming Queen Mary back to her homeland.
“Back to where it all began, welcome home Queen Mary – it’s bloody beautiful to have you and your fella back,” wrote one fan.
“Enjoy your visit & hoping you both manage to have some R&R before your return to Denmark. Beautiful Royal family & we are so proud of you Her Majesty Queen Mary. And how amazing is that red earth in the centre of Oz!” wrote another.
Day 2: Uluṟu and Canberra
Good morning from The Weekly in Central Australia, where it is still sadly a little overcast for the Royal visit.
King Frederik and Queen Mary arrived at the Kuniya Walk under the cover of darkness, just after 6.30 AM, with the plan of viewing the sunrise at the Muṯitjulu Waterhole.
The cloud cover meant the morning was not quite as spectacular as hoped, but as the day dawned, the rust-red rock formations were beautiful nonetheless.
The Danish Royals arrived with huge smiles, not at all disappointed by the weather.
Senior Aṉangu led King Frederik and Queen Mary to the Muṯitjulu Waterhole, which is one of the few permanent water sources around Uluṟu.
Denmark’s King Frederik X (L) and Queen Mary (2nd R) walk towards Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, during a sunrise visit to the Muitjulu Waterhole in Uluu-Kata Tjua National Park on March 15, 2026, part of their five-day state visit to Australia. (Photo by David GRAY / AFP via Getty Images)
Upon their return, the Royals were asked how they were handling the many flies that had accompanied them on their tour so far, to which King Frederik cheerfully replied that they had tried some honey ants at the waterhole.
Honey ants live under the Acacia trees in the region.
“They essentially create honey from the nectar they collect,” one of the local experts explained. “What’s really amazing about these honey ants is you can actually pick the bulb of honey off the back, and they’re still alive. You just let them go.”
“So Aṉangu will do that knowing they can come back to that tree later and there will be honey ants there.”
King Frederik joked that the honey ants were “quite good for brekky”. His majesty has seemed thrilled to be back in Australia.
Danish Royal Correspondent weighs in on the historic visit
Danish Royal Correspondent Marie Rønde flew 22 hours to follow the Royal Tour of Australia. She said both King Frederik and Queen Mary seemed particularly happy and relaxed since touching down in Uluṟu yesterday.
“It seems like she’s home and you can see that she’s relaxed and just enjoying it really,” Marie said. “You feel that they are excited.”
“It’s a historic visit for us, the Australian-born Queen coming home,” Marie continued. “I’m seeing it as a bit of a homecoming Queen tour … We know that she will be received with such love and a warm welcome from Australians and Tasmanians, so we want to experience that and witness that. We cover every state visit, but this one stands out because it’s her birth country.”
According to Danish Royal protocol, heads of state only pay one state visit per country. “So, they will not be here for a state visit in 10 years or 12 years, this will be the one,” Marie said.
She said the fact that the Royal Couple were paying a state visit to Australia so early in their reign shows how important Australia is to them. “This one is the first outside the political agenda.”
Marie was granted a brief interview with the Royal couple in Danish last night and told The Weekly that their Majesties said it is very special to be back in the land where they first met.
“It is always wonderful to come to Australia,” King Frederik said.
Off to Canberra
King Frederik X and Queen Mary depart Uluṟu for our nation’s capital, where they are greeted at Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC, her partner Simeon Beckett SC, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife, Jodie Haydon. Their Majesties will receive a 21-gun salute on the lakeside lawn of Government House, followed by a performance of the National Anthem and Royal Anthem of Denmark, ‘King Christian’.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark enjoy a laugh at Government House on March 15, 2026 in Canberra, Australia. Denmark’s King Frederik X and Queen Mary are on a five-day state visit to Australia. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)
Royal watchers will be hoping to glimpse a tiara at the formal state dinner to be held in Canberra later this evening, where both the Governor-General and King Frederik X will deliver a speech.
Fans will have an opportunity to get close to the Royal couple in the morning, when King Frederik X and Queen Mary lay a wreath and floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian soldier in the Hall of Memory.
Check back in for updates from The Australian Women’s Weekly team.
Author
The Australian Women’s Weekly
Author
Genevieve Gannon
Senior Writer
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