King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden continued to receive an enthusiastic welcome Down Under on Tuesday as they entered the second day of their official visit to Australia with an excursion to one of the country's most famous landmarks.
When they touched down in Canberra for the start of a week-long state visit to Australia on Monday, the couple – it is the queen's first visit to the country – were greeted by dozens of excited members of the country's Swedish community, all waving their homeland's flag.
And their reception was equally warm as they arrived at Sydney Opera House the following day, with the queen, elegant in an aquamarine suit, being presented with numerous bunches of spring blooms by some young compatriots.
While Down Under, the couple are due to meet Australians involved in areas of special interest to them, including research and technological advancements in the fields of medicine, health care, the environment and in industry. The visit also includes stop offs in Adelaide and Ayer's Rock, where the royal pair will attend a traditional Aboriginal ceremony, before drawing to a close in Perth on November 12.
In visiting Uluru - as the Aboriginal native people call the stunning "red" rock in the centre of the Outback - and taking in the grandeur of Sydney's legendary opera house, the Swedish royals are getting just a taster of what the vast country has to offer. Other key attractions include the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Twelve Apostles - a line of fascinating rock formations just off the coast - and some of the world's finest national parks.
The royal duo's visit comes in the wake of a successful trip to Oz by their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, earlier in the year.
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
