Danish Royal Watchers: 2. DRWs feature: Australian visit 2005

continues... Canberra, Melbourne and Tasmania

Then the royal couple headed for Canberra where there was more mixing with the national politerati at Parliament House, the Governor-General, they visited the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum of Australia and they signed an agreement of co-operation between the Australian National University and the University of Copenhagen. Frederik and Mary visited the Prime Minister John Howard at his Canberra residence The Lodge. Frederik made a speech at the state dinner at Government House (Yarralumla) and they caught a kangaroo hop past in the grounds of Yarralumla.

Then it was off to Melbourne where Frederik and Mary were greeted enthusiastically in Federation Square with Premier Steve Bracks by their side while opening a city to city link between Melbourne and Copenhagen. They also attended a reception and it was revealed which Australian Rules football team Mary supported (Carlton).

Frederik and Mary then flew to Mary's home state of Tasmania. Here they attended a Chocolate Lovers' fundraiser and state reception combined for Save the Children Australia at Wrest Point in Hobart. Two of Mary's nieces performed along with other children in the light-hearted spirit of the evening, while Frederik (who is patron of Save the Children Denmark) gave his last speech:
"...For obvious personal reasons, Tasmania has a special place in our hearts...". Frederik and Mary planted trees, gave a press conference (half in English, half in Danish) and visited the Port Arthur Historic Site before finishing the official part of the visit to join some of Mary's family on a short holiday in the Tasmanian wilderness visiting Cradle Mountain, Strahan, the Gordon River and the West Coast.
After the private family time, the royal couple flew to Sydney from Hobart and then home to Denmark via Bangkok. They forged new contact and relationships between all sorts of institutions and organisations in Australia and Denmark (in health, education, culture and tourism) and left Australia with a significant number of Australians wanting them as 'our royals'. And, finally, who can forget the Fruit Tingles? The Australian sweets which Mary said she missed in a pre-visit interview with Andrew Denton on Enough Rope (transcript) were cleared out from the shops in some places to give to Mary in every form possible, including as a bouquet!