Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Australian-born Queen Mary and her husband King Frederik have touched down in Uluru after a special overnight trip in Perth.
The Danish royals enjoyed a short one-night stay at Government House with WA Governor Chris Dawson and his wife Darrilyn Dawson before departing to the national landmark.
Denmark’s monarchs woke before dawn on Sunday to walk to Muṯitjulu Waterhole in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park alongside traditional owners.
The site is one of the few permanent water sources around the sandstone monolith.
Queen Mary said it was great to be home while snapping pictures at the infamous site.
“We’ve been so much looking forward to the visit and to start the visit here in the centre of Australia is quite something,” she said.
“And to experience Uluru for the first time and to meet with the Aṉangu people and hear a little bit about their spiritual and cultural connection to the lands … it’s been a really great start to what will be an exciting visit here.”
The pair’s trip to the Northern Territory landmark comes after the royal couple made a surprise stopover in Western Australia.
The quick visit to Perth came ahead of their six-day state visit with public appearances scheduled in Uluru, Canberra, Melbourne and Mary’s hometown Hobart.
It marks their first official visit as King and Queen, and the first by any Danish monarch since Queen Margrethe, the King’s mother, in 1987 — almost four decades ago.
“It was an honour and a pleasure to be able to host Their Majesties The King and Queen of Denmark at Government House,” Mr Dawson said about the pair’s time in WA.
“Their visit was a memorable occasion, and we were delighted to extend the hospitality of Government House and share with them some of the history and spirit of our State, from our beautiful gardens to a selection of some of Western Australia’s finest food and wine.”
Before departing Perth to kick off their official program, Queen Mary and King Frederik thanked the Governor, Mrs Dawson and staff, Government House said in a statement.
Federal Perth MP Patrick Gorman and WA Cabinet Secretary Daniel Pastorelli hit the tarmac to farewell the Danes on Saturday.
“It was a huge honour to briefly meet Their Majesties as part of their official Australian visit,” Mr Pastorelli said.
“You could tell that the King and Queen were both very excited to be back in Australia. They were friendly, warm and down to earth.”
Queen Mary and King Frederik will continue their state visit by heading to an engagement in Canberra with Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Queen still has family in Tasmania while her brother John Donaldson works in the WA’s mining industry.
The couple met at the Ship Inn Hotel in Sydney at the 2000 Olympics and have four children together.
