Danish King and Queen Start Australia Visit at Uluru

King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark began their first state visit to Australia as reigning monarchs with a sunrise trek to a culturally significant waterhole at Uluru on Sunday, marking a nostalgic return to the country where their romance began more than two decades ago.

The royal couple arrived in Perth on Saturday for a brief stopover before flying to the remote Red Centre. They stayed overnight at Government House, hosted by Western Australia Governor Chris Dawson and his wife, Darrilyn Dawson. Local officials, including Federal Perth MP Patrick Gorman and WA Cabinet Secretary Daniel Pastorelli, farewelled them at the airport. "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," Pastorelli said.

Upon reaching Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Frederik and Mary were welcomed by Anangu traditional owners at the cultural centre. Under grey skies following recent heavy rains that turned the arid landscape unusually green and sparked waterfalls along the sandstone monolith, they toured exhibits on the land's creation stories and Anangu customs. The visit included a performance of the ceremonial...