Danish royals Mary and Frederik’s Australian trip had plastic crowns, cheering crowds – and a deeper message

Trump, Iran and Greenland weren’t mentioned, but they may as well have been. It was a reminder that for all the pomp and ceremony, royal visits often contain a kernel of real diplomacy Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Amid the optimism and colour of Queen Mary and King Frederik’s visit down under, a sobering message was carried into the heart of Australian democracy. “In times of uncertainty, trust is everything. Not only within our society, but also between the nations,” Lars Aagaard, the Danish minister for climate change, intoned gravely to an event of Australian politicians on behalf of the visiting Danish delegation. “We know now that in this difficult world we’re living in, we need to seek even deeper friendship among countries that share our values and interest.” The words Trump, Iran and Greenland weren’t mentioned, but they may as well have been. It was a reminder that, for all the pomp and ceremony and public-facing levity of such regal visits, there is often a nugget – or more – of serious diplomacy, of hard-headed politics, at their core which the cheering crowds don’t always see. Cheering crowds were not in short supply