Frederik's and Mary's Trip to Australia
The Royal couple spent the first day of their official trip to Australia sailing in Sydney Harbour on opposing boats, Frederik sailing for Denmark and Mary on the Australian yacht, racing against each other. Mary defeated Frederik winning 2 of the 3 match races.
On February 28th, the Premier of
South Wales State hosted a luncheon in honour of the Couple at Sydney’s Level 41 Restaurant.
On March 2nd, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary attended the 90th Australian Red Cross Ball charity dinner at Sydney’s Westin Hotel.
On March 3rd, Mary attended a luncheon at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. Later that evening, the Couple attended the
New South Wales State Dinner at Government House.
On March 4th, Crown Princess Mary toured the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Darlinghurst, Sydney. That evening, she attended the Institute’s charity ball at the Wentworth Hotel. Mary addressed the guests in a speech supporting the work of the Institute.
Crown Prince Frederik was attending a gala dinner for the Farr-40 world sailing championships.
On March 5th, Crown Princess Mary met with patients during a tour of the Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney. She read the H.C. Andersen fairy tale
The Ugly Duckling to the young listeners. Mary also toured the Australian Cancer Research Foundation at Westmead Hospital in Sydney's western suburbs on the same day. During the evening, both Frederik and Mary attended a dinner hosted by the Cancer Research Foundation at the Elizabeth Bay waterfront mansion, Boomerang.
On March 6th, the Crown Prince Couple attended a service at a Danish church in Pennant Hills, Sydney and talked to the children from Sunday school.
On March 7th, the Crown Prince appointed six Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors (five from Australia & one from New Zealand) during a ceremony held in Jorn Utzon Room (named in honour of the Danish architect) at the Sydney Opera House. Mary was also appointed an honorary Ambassador during the ceremony and received a kiss from her husband. The Royal Couple later unveiled a Hans Christian Andersen bust at the Observatory Hill in Sydney. They also were guests of honour at the Danish Consul Reception at the Bennelong Restaurant in the Sydney Opera House.
On March 8th, Frederik and Mary arrived in Canberra to be greeted by Governor-General Michael Jeffery. They visited the Australian National University for the signing of agreements between ANU and the University of Copenhagen. They laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and attended a state dinner at Government House hosted by the governor-general.
On March 9th, the Couple toured Parliament House, had afternoon tea with Prime Minister John Howard, visited the National Museum of Australia and watched the kangaroos living on the grounds of Government House.
On March 10th, Frederik and Mary met privately with Governor John Landy and his wife before going to Melbourne's Federation Square where several thousand people gathered to watch them arrive. The royal couple along with Premier Steve Bracks inaugurated a live video link from Federation Square to Copenhagen's Radhusspladsen (City Hall Square). Crown Princess Mary delivered a speech to launch the
Square to Square Project. After their duties at Federation Square, the Royal Couple took a boat cruise on the Yarra River before attending a midday state reception hosted by Premier Steve Bracks.
Later that afternoon, the Crown Prince Couple made their official visit to the Princess' home state of Tasmania. They were greeted by Premier Paul Lennon and Governor William Cox. That evening, they attended a gala dinner at Government House in Hobart.
On March 11th, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary were escorted by Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon on a tour of the historic penal colony of Port Arthur and then they walked through the ruins of the Broad Arrow Café. The Couple held their first and only press conference at Government House in Hobart on the last day of their official tour of Australia. That evening they attended the Chocolate Lover's Ball sponsored by Save The Children Australia.
The Royal Couple spent another week in Tasmania enjoying a holiday.
Frederik's and Mary's Trip to Australia