Danish royal couple concludes Australia visit with Queen Mary in the spotlight

The Danish king and queen have wrapped up a six-day state visit to Australia, where Queen Mary took centre stage in her home country, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

King Frederik X joked during the visit that he has long been known in Australia as “that guy next to Mary”—a role he said he happily embraces. Speaking at a farewell dinner in Melbourne on Wednesday, the king recounted how, during their first official visit as crown prince and princess in 2005, he overheard a child refer to him as “the guy standing next to Mary.” “And that’s how it’s been ever since,” he said, adding that he is content to let “our Mary” take the spotlight in her homeland.

The visit, which included stops from Uluru in the Northern Territory to Tasmania in the south, was dominated by media and public attention on the Australian-born queen. Over 200 Australian journalists covered the trip, with most questions directed at Queen Mary.

The state visit also featured a major trade push, with more than 50 Danish companies—particularly in green and renewable energy—participating in business forums. Several letters of intent were signed between Danish and Australian firms and authorities.

The royal couple began their tour at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where they attended a traditional inma welcome ceremony hosted by the Anangu people, the Indigenous custodians of the land. Later engagements included meetings with Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and visits to cultural and economic hubs in Canberra, Melbourne, and Hobart.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen Mary tried her hand at Australian rules football, while the king joined business leaders at a life sciences event promoting Danish-Australian partnerships in health innovation. The visit concluded with a focus on urban development projects in Melbourne’s Prahran district.