Queen Mary of Denmark has delivered an emotional speech as she wrapped up a historic six-day Australian tour in her hometown of Hobart, describing the visit as “rewarding” and “unforgettable”.
The Hobart-born royal and King Frederik spent their final day touring Tasmania’s south, from an marine research with IMAS near Taroona to cutting-edge battery-electric shipbuilding at Incat’s Derwent Park facility.
“Last night I ended a speech in Melbourne saying how privileged I am that my roots are grounded both in Australia and Denmark, but they do go a little bit deeper – in Tasmania,” Queen Mary told guests at a state reception at Government House tonight.
“There really isn’t a more special place to end what has been a unique, rewarding, moving, exciting, curious tour.”
“I’m a bit overwhelmed, but thank you everyone for being here.”
The day began with a traditional cleansing ceremony by Tasmania’s First Nations people at Government House before the royal couple boarded a boat to learn about local marine biodiversity off Alum Cliffs near Taroona.
“It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for it,” Queen Mary said at the time, adding that holding a sea urchin was “a new experience”.
The Queen said “good memories popped up” as the tour passed her former school, Taroona High School.
At Incat’s shipyard, the royals inspected a battery-electric ferry being built for Danish operator Mølslinjen, one of three vessels in a $3.5 billion deal representing the world’s largest marine electrification project.
Each 129-metre catamaran will carry up to 1,500 passengers and 500 cars at speeds of up to 40 knots, operating entirely on battery power across Denmark’s Kattegat routes.
“We’re sending windmills to Australia and Tasmania is sending us green ferries to ensure that our environmental impact is minimised,” Queen Mary said.
“It just proves to me that we share so many common values and common ambitions.”
The visit also included a stop at The Agrarian Kitchen, where the couple experienced Tasmania’s approach to environmental sustainability and food innovation.
“I’ve been inspired and so impressed by the breadth of collaboration between our two countries,” the Queen said.
“From green technology and green energy transformation to health and science, research, art.”
Governor Barbara Baker said Tasmania had been hoping for a royal visit since Frederik and Mary’s proclamation as King and Queen in January 2024.
“Our state’s relationship with Denmark is strong and we are proud of our close connections,” she said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff described the visit as a “tremendous honour” for Tasmania, highlighting the synergies between the two places.
“Our shared vision around renewable energy and advanced manufacturing and of course, our very deliberative and determined conservation ethics,” he said.
The visit concluded with a public walkabout along Hunter Street, where crowds lined both sides of the waterfront precinct to greet the couple.
It was the royals’ first official public visit to Tasmania since ascending to the throne, offering locals a rare chance to meet their “homegrown” queen.
Mary grew up in Hobart before meeting then-Crown Prince Frederik at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics. The pair married in 2004, and Mary became queen when Frederik ascended to the throne in January 2024.
“All Australians, and Tasmanians in particular, hold a very deep and heartfelt sense of connection to the King and the Queen,” Rockliff said.
“I look forward to what we can continue to achieve together in the future.”
Queen Mary raised a toast at the state reception to what she described as “an ambition for both our countries, and that is for a future that is peaceful, secure, prosperous and sustainable”.
