Visit from Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary offers royal opportunity for closer Aussie ties

Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary will grab headlines for their fashion, celebration of Indigenous culture and interactions with Australians during their first – and only – state visit in March.

The couple will start at Uluru where they will be welcomed by traditional owners, before travelling to Canberra for a formal program with Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to a briefing for select Australian media at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.

They’ll then go on to Melbourne and Mary’s home town of Hobart during the six-day trip.

But it’s the inclusion of a large business delegation and an anticipated three senior ministers that the Danes see as demonstrating the importance they place on the relationship with Australia in times when geostrategic ties are shifting.

The Tasmanian-born Mary and her royal husband are frequent visitors to Australia, but this trip is highly significant to them for its diplomatic importance as well as the personal.

Denmark’s deputy prime minister who also holds the Defence portfolio, and the ministers for foreign affairs, and climate and energy are scheduled to accompany the royal couple, although the Danish election, which was called on Thursday for March 24 may derail this.

“I think all countries in this world need friends,” climate and energy minister Lars Aargaard said in an interview in Copenhagen, adding that Australia and Denmark were friends and, in his portfolio, among “a group of countries in this world that believes in science” – unlike America under Donald Trump.

“There is a risk that if, if we do not unite, and if we do not work together, if we are seen as individuals, we will be seen as less important than we then we potentially could be,” he said.

“That’s why Denmark is committed to Europe, that Europe should join forces and unite and speak with a common voice.

“But I would also very much prefer to see a Europe that is not … a Europe that builds a fence around Europe and we decide just to be Europeans.

“My aspiration is bigger, and that includes seeking partners and alliances with other countries in this world.”

Denmark’s ambassador to Australia, Ingid Dahl-Madsen, said given how the world was changing, it was more important than ever to overcome the geographical distance and strengthen the relationship.

“This is quite a significant signal as well in terms of how close a partner we see Australia being to Denmark and to the EU,” she said.

The uncertainty Mr Trump has injected into the global arena on multiple fronts – defence, climate action, trade, investment – was raised repeatedly by senior Danish figures in government and industry speaking to this masthead as a reason for Denmark to strengthen ties with Australia.

“We have a US showcase running right now showing what damages can happen around investments if we can’t rely on agreed things. So this is really what we dislike,” Danish Industry vice president Troels Ranis said.

The 55-strong business delegation is focused on green energy and sustainable building, areas where Denmark has decades of expertise but also is looking to learn form the Australian experience.

Denmark’s export and investment fund EIFO has $2.3 billion invested in Australian projects already, mainly wind, but is looking to pour up to $10 billion into renewables or critical minerals in the country.

“We’re very interested in doing more in Australia… we have much more capacity today than the 2.3 billion Aussie dollars you see,” EIFO’s chief operating officer Peter Boeskov said.

A state visit is the highest level of diplomatic relations, and the Danish royals can only make one such visit to each country during their reign.

It’s been almost 40 years since the last one, when King Frederik’s mother Margrethe II, travelled to Australia.

This will be the furthest afield they have travelled on a state visit since Frederik’s ascension to the throne in early 2024.

The rarity of the level of visit also adds to the significance of Australia making the cut so early in his reign.

Frederik and Mary have made several “official” visits Down Under while they were the Crown Prince and Princess, and are frequent visitors in a private capacity.

The Queen still has family in Tasmania while her brother John Donaldson works in the WA’s mining industry.

They wanted to start their visit at Uluru, where they have been before, to visit a sacred place to Indigenous Australians and honour the traditional culture.

Ms Mostyn will host a state dinner, while the royals will reciprocate with a return reception to thank their official hosts. Such events typically feature performances by Danish artists.

Katina Curtis travelled as a guest of the Danish Foreign Ministry