Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark were dressed to the nines in full regalia as they attended a State Banquet in Canberra during their official visit to Australia over the weekend.
The couple has travelled Down Under for the first time since becoming King and Queen in 2024, following the abdication of Frederik's mother, Queen Margrethe.
On Sunday, they were received by the Governor-General at Government House, with Mary, 54, wearing her Ole Lynggaard Brooch in her hair, which featured pavé-set diamonds within a design of gold leaves. The striking heirloom is often worn in place of a tiara at high-profile state events.
During the banquet, both the King and the Governor-General gave speeches, with Frederik sharing a rare public tribute to his wife.
He recalled the early days of their romance, after meeting in Australia at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in a pub called the Slip Inn, saying he remains "forever grateful" for her move across the world to make their relationship work.
King Frederik's speech
Referencing their first meeting, Frederik, 57, said: "For me, Australia has held a very special place in my heart ever since I slipped into that bar and lost it in a conversation that has never ended.
"Mary, you had the courage to leave your beloved home and build a new one with me as far away as one can possibly go. For that, I will be forever grateful. Australia is our second home. Whether we come here for a family visit or a State Visit, we feel both excited and entirely at ease.
"Being here for the first time as King and Queen does not change that, although it does add somewhat to the planning. On behalf of both Mary and me, I would like to thank everyone involved in making this visit possible. And what a spectacular beginning it has already been."
The monarch also referred to the tragic attack on Bondi Beach on 14 December, recalling how it "shocked us all". The attacks resulted in 15 people being killed, while 40 more were injured in the country's worst mass shooting in decades.
© Getty ImagesHe added: "At the time, Mary and I sent our condolences from afar. It means a great deal to us to be able to convey our deepest sympathy here in Australia."
King Frederik concluded: "When I first set foot on Australian soil, I was someone who came from somewhere very far away. When I returned four years later, the Kingdom of Denmark was no longer simply a distant place. It had become a country that people knew about and were talking about.
"Over the years, my Australian family always made me feel truly welcome. They embraced me as one of their own, and I embraced everything Australian. I raise my glass to the people of Australia and Denmark. May our friendship continue to flourish and may the story we share continue happily ever after."
A special visit to Australia
King Frederik and Queen Mary are making a six-day visit to Australia from 14 to 19 March. It is their first visit together to Mary's homeland in 13 years, though they have visited in a private capacity before now.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesSo far, they have witnessed a spectacular sunset at Ayers Rock in Uluru, the sacred home of the Anangu people, taking a walk around the base at dawn. They have also stopped in Canberra and are set to finish the visit in Hobart, where Mary spent much of her childhood.
Over the coming days, they will also witness how Danish expertise contributes to expanding renewable energy in Australia, before moving on to look at battery-electric ferries in Tasmania.
