Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary have been welcomed to the nation's capital by the governor-general and prime minister as part of their whirlwind Australian tour.
The royals were given a guard of honour at Government House in Canberra on Sunday as they were officially welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The pair signed the official guest book before a state dinner hosted by the governor-general and partner Simeon Beckett.
The meal came after the couple woke before dawn in the Northern Territory on Sunday to walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with traditional owners.
The culturally significant site is one of the few permanent water sources around the sandstone monolith and a regular attraction for visiting dignitaries.
It welcomed the late Princess Diana and then Prince Charles, now King, during their 1983 British royal tour, as well as the Dalai Lama in 2015.
Frederick and Mary touched down in the red centre on Saturday for a six-day state tour, their first trip to Australia since ascending the throne.
The monarchs made their way into the cultural centre under grey skies for a guided tour and ceremonial dance called Inma that connects traditional custodians, the Anangu, to their ancestors.
Queen Mary said it was great to be home while snapping pictures at Uluru's sunset viewing 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 Anangu 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 royals will continue official engagements in Canberra on Monday, before departing for Melbourne and the Queen's hometown of Hobart.
The visit aims to deepen trade ties between Queen Mary's adopted and home countries, with a focus on clean energy.
Their delegation includes Denmark's deputy prime minister, ministers for foreign affairs and climate and more than 50 Danish companies.
Frederik and Mary were proclaimed Denmark's king and queen in a ceremony attracting wide fanfare in January 2024.
The event marked their 20th year of marriage.
Formerly Mary Donaldson, the pair met during a chance encounter at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympic Games.
Then aged 28 and working in marketing, the future queen had no idea she had crossed paths with Denmark's party-boy crown prince.
The last time the royals visited Australia officially was 13 years ago, making this their fourth tour together.
They are likely to spend time with Queen Mary's relatives in Tasmania, including her elderly father John Donaldson.
