Queen Mary’s creepy encounter as she arrives back home to Tasmania during historic Aussie visit with husband King Frederik
King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark got up close and personal with the local marine life when they arrived in Hobart on March 19 for the final leg of their Australian tour.
The visit to the Queen’s home state of Tasmania capped off the six–day tour and was arguably the most personal stop of the trip – marking her first official visit there in over 20 years.
Although the Queen would’ve been excited to reunite with the Tassie locals, a boat trip to Alum Cliffs Marine Reserve with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies saw Their Majesties perhaps getting a little bit too close to the underwater wildlife.
The Tasmanian–born Queen was pictured, mouth agape, while delicately holding a prickly–looking sea urchin.
Meanwhile, both Mary, 54, and Frederik, 57, looked astounded when a marine researcher held up a giant live lobster in his bare hands.
The king and queen visited the area to speak with researchers and learn about kelp forest restoration and marine biodiversity, highlighting the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff was also pictured joining the royal couple on the boat, later telling local media outlets that he was ‘proud as punch to be showing off the most beautiful place in the world’.
Earlier, the royals began their morning in Hobart with a visit to Government House, where they attended a Welcome to Country ceremony hosted by Governor Barbara Baker and Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark’s final tour day in Hobart saw them meeting some local marine life while taking a boat trip to Alum Cliffs Marine Reserve with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
The king and queen visited the area to speak with marine researchers and learn about underwater ecosystems
The boat ride was the second engagement of the royals’ morning in Hobart. They had previously started the day at Government House where they attended a Welcome to Country ceremony
The welcome included a traditional smoking ceremony led by an Aboriginal representative, marking respect for the land and people of Tasmania.
Just as she has done throughout the trip, Queen Mary’s outfit for the morning’s adventures was a re-wear of a beloved outfit that she has been pictured in on at previous royal engagements.
For all the morning’s events, the Queen looked chic in a cream Ralph Lauren Wool Silk Linen Draped Jacket layered over a ME+EM Paisley print maxi dress. Incidentally, the British designer is also a favourite of another royal, Princess Catherine.
Mary’s look was accessorised in Tassie with a tan, waist–tied belt over her jacket, paired with brown suede pump heels, hoop earrings and gold bracelets.
She added a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses for the boat outing.
Royal pundits may recall that Mary was wearing the same dress, jacket and belt combo in July 2025 at an event in Graasten Palace – only on that occasion, she was unfortunately stung on the leg by a wasp.
The action-packed morning in Hobart was just the beginning for the royals, who had a full itinerary for their final tour day.
According to the programme shared on the Danish Royals’ website, their next stop was a visit to the INCAT Shipyard in Hobart, which builds high-speed catamarans and is currently constructing the world’s largest battery-powered ferries for Danish operator Molslinjen. There, the King and Queen would view the dock and the battery compartment of a completed ferry.
Mary’s look was accessorised in Tassie with a tan, waist–tied belt over her jacket, paired with brown suede pump heels, hoop earrings and gold bracelets
No trip to Hobart is complete without a visit to MONA Museum of Contemporary Art – so naturally, it was also on the royals’ list of destinations for the day
‘In Tasmania, we will see Australian-built battery-electric ferries that will soon create a green link between Danish regions,’ King Frederik said on Sunday
In his state banquet speech in Canberra earlier this week, King Frederik flagged the visit in his address.
‘In Tasmania, we will see Australian-built battery-electric ferries that will soon create a green link between Danish regions,’ he said on Sunday.
This would then be followed by a visit to The Agrarian Kitchen, with the royal couple stopping by the award-winning, hyper-local cooking school and restaurant that focuses on sustainable and circular food practices.
No trip to Hobart is complete without a visit to MONA Museum of Contemporary Art – so naturally, it was also on the royals’ list of destinations for the day.
This would then be followed by a visit to The Agrarian Kitchen, with the royal couple stopping by the award-winning, hyper-local cooking school and restaurant that focuses on sustainable and circular food practices
The action-packed morning in Hobart was just the beginning for the royals, who had a full itinerary for their final tour day
The last hurrah of the tour is a State Reception hosted by the Tasmanian governor
The couple were set to tour the art museum with founder David Walsh and attend a pop-up concert by Danish electropop duo ROYA in one of the museum’s exhibition spaces.
Afterwards, the King and Queen planned to take a short walk along Hunter Street, known for its many historic buildings.
The last hurrah of the tour is a State Reception hosted by the Tasmanian governor.
The prestigious event will see the royals joined for the evening by specially invited guests, and it also marks the conclusion of The King and Queen’s state visit to Australia.
