Queen Mary and King Frederik share personal throwback photos as they jet to Australia for state visit

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark have shared adorable throwback photos from the early years of their relationship as they jet to Australia for a state visit this week. 

The couple, who met in Australia more than 20 years ago, will be returning to Mary’s homeland from 14 to 19 March. 

In pictures shared to the royal family’s social media accounts, a newly-engaged Mary and Frederik were seen visiting Australia back in 2004. In one, the loved-up couple was holding hands and, in the second, Mary gazed adoringly at her husband-to-be during a shopping trip. 

The caption read: “On the way! We have been enormously looking forward to the reunion with Australia and the whole country’s population. A lot has happened since we met here more than 25 years ago! See you soon, Australia!” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also due to visit Australia next month. 

Roots of romance

The upcoming six-day state visit will be the queen’s most personal trip to date and is their first trip Down Under together in 13 years. 

Mary was born in Tasmania on 5 February 1972, but temporarily lived in Texas from 1974 to 1975 when her father found work at NASA’s space centre in Houston. 

She later moved to Sydney and met Frederik during the 2000 Olympic Games at a pub called the Slip Inn. Mary didn’t even know Frederik was royalty, as he only introduced himself as “Fred”. After two years of dating, Mary left Australia behind and moved to Denmark in 2002. 

They got married in 2004 and became King and Queen of Denmark in 2024, after Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne. They share four children: Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent. 

Mary and Frederik’s Australia agenda

Mary and Frederik are returning to Australia for the first time since being crowned in 2024. They have previously made three state visits to the country, plus numerous private holidays.  

© Getty Images

The agenda of their trip had been thrown into doubt in recent weeks due to the ongoing US-Iran war, but appears to be going ahead as normal with a few adjustments. 

A spokesperson said previously: “The royal couple’s visit to Australia will be carried out with a few adjustments that will be announced later. The dates of the visit will not be changed.” There is also a parliamentary general election in Denmark this week. 

The trip will include stops in Canberra and Melbourne and will finish in Hobart, where Mary spent much of her childhood. They will also see a sunrise and sunset at Uluru, a huge sandstone formation that changes colour throughout the day. 

© Kongehuset

Prime Minister Albanese released a statement on January 30, welcoming the royals: “It is an honour to welcome Their Majesties The King and Queen of Denmark back to Australia.

“It is wonderful that the visit includes many parts of our great country, from the Northern Territory to Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and of course, Tasmania.” Crown Prince Christian, 20, will act as regent while the couple is away.