Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark have enjoyed one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks as their whirlwind six-day tour kicked off.

After touching down in Perth on Friday, the Danish royals travelled to the Northern Territory on Saturday to visit Uluru in their first public appearance.

Sporting a chic beige long skirt, colourful blouse and comfortable flats, Australian-born Queen Mary was seen waving to the awaiting media as she stepped off the plane at Ayers Rock Airport.

The couple were greeted on the tarmac by NT Police southern commander James Gray-Spence and newly sworn-in NT Administrator David Connolly.

Queen Mary was later seen wearing an Akubra as the Danish royals were greeted by local guides.

The normally arid desert region was a sea of green after weeks of heavy rain soaked the outback tourist site, sending waterfalls cascading down the famous rock. 

They began the afternoon with a tour of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Cultural Centre,  where they learned about the creation of the land and Anangu customs.

The royal couple exchanged handshakes with Anangu traditional owners and watched a ceremonial dance called Inma that connects the Aṉangu to their ancestors through song and dance.

The monarchs opted against umbrellas during the traditional ceremony, where King Frederik was seen helping his wife put on a waterproof jacket when it began to rain. 

They were then taken to a local cafe, where they enjoyed refreshing iced teas made from quandong and other native ingredients.

The Danish royals later admired the sunset at the massive sandstone monolith with Indigenous elders.

‘We’ve been so much looking forward to the visit and to start the visit here, in the centre of Australia, is quite something,’ Queen Mary told reporters.

‘To start the visit here in the centre of Australia is quite something, to experience Uluru for the first time and to meet with the Anangu.’

‘To hear a little bit about their spiritual and cultural connection to the land, it’s been a really great start to what will be an exciting visit here.’

The monarchs spent the night there and will travel to a nearby waterhole, which is one of the few permanent water sources around Uluru, for sunrise on Sunday.

The Uluru visit was reminiscent of the 1983 British royal tour, when the late Princess Diana and then Prince Charles, now King, visited the culturally significant monument.

The British royals’ son Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton followed in their footsteps by visiting Uluru 31 year later.

The latest historic royal tour marks Mary’s first return to her homeland since she became Queen in January 2024, the first by any Danish monarch in 40 years. 

The couple will travel to Canberra on Sunday, where they will be welcomed at Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon.

Ms Mostyn will host a formal state dinner for the royals.

The Danish royal couple will visit Parliament House, where they will receive a ceremonial 21-gun salute. 

There will be an opportunity for the public to see the Danish royals at Canberra’s Australian War Memorial on Monday morning.

The tour will also take them to Melbourne, where they will attend a state banquet and events highlighting Denmark-Australia relations. 

They will then travel to Queen Mary’s home state of Tasmania , where she will visit her old school in Hobart and other hometown sites, where she still has family, including her elderly father John Donaldson.

The last time the royals visited Australia officially was 13 years ago, making this their fourth tour together.  

The Danish royals are promoting industry and trade ties during their visit, highlighting clean energy and urban development. 

More than 50 Danish business leaders will accompany the monarchs on their Australian tour, including Denmark’s deputy prime minister and various ministers.

‘Denmark and Australia share an interest in nature and cultural conservation and elements related to nature and culture will form part of the state visit,’ a statement from the Royal House of Denmark read.

As the royals touched down in Perth, their official Instagram page shared photos of the couple early in their relationship, which began after they met during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

‘On the way! We have been greatly looking forward to seeing Australia and the people of the whole country again,’ the post, accompanied by the iconic Aussie anthem Down Under from Men At Work, read.

‘A lot has happened since we last met here more than 25 years ago!’

The couple met in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics, striking up a friendship at the CBD bar The Slip Inn. 

They married in 2004 and have made several official and private visits to Australia since.

Previous visits have involved introducing their children – Christian, 20, Isabella, 18, and 15-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine, to Australia.

It’s understood that they have not joined their parents on the latest tour.