Hobart and Copenhagen celebrate Queen Mary’s accession

Published on 03 December 2024

In celebration of Hobart-born Mary Donaldson's accession to Queen Mary of Denmark earlier this year, the City of Hobart and the City of Copenhagen have honoured this historic moment while acknowledging a shared vision for more action on climate change.

Each city has marked the occasion by planting trees of significance in popular public places.

Queen Mary attended the planting in Copenhagen over night, while Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen made her first visit to Tasmania to attend the Hobart ceremony.

Hobart planted a blue gum, Tasmania’s floral emblem, at Long Beach in Sandy Bay, close to where Queen Mary attended school at Sandy Bay Infant and Waimea Heights Primary.

Students from these schools and Tasmanian Minister Eric Abetz, representing Premier Jeremy Rockliff, were also present at the ceremony.

In front of the Queen and the Copenhagen Lord Mayor Lars Weiss, the City of Copenhagen planted an oak, Denmark’s national tree, in the city’s largest park Faelledparken.

The blue gum will also grow to become another part of the City of Hobart’s Our City Canopy campaign, aiming to increase the city’s greenery combat climate change.

For more information, visit ourcitycanopy.com.au.

Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:

“Our community takes great pride in Queen Mary's Hobart heritage, and we are delighted to celebrate this with a gesture that honours our connection to her home today.

"These trees, unique and special to both countries, symbolises the bond between Hobart and Copenhagen and our shared commitment to action on climate change.

"Planting trees enriches our city, they create cleaner air, shade and habitat. Trees make our streets and parks more beautiful and people-friendly places.

"This planting is another step towards meeting our goal of increasing Hobart's urban tree canopy to 40 per cent by 2046."

Quotes to be attributed to Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen:

“It is an honor for me to participate in this tree-planting ceremony.

“Not only as an element of fighting climate change, but just as important for its symbol of the deep connection between Denmark and Tasmania, a bond rooted in shared values of sustainability, heritage, and respect for nature.

“As we plant these trees in Hobart and in Copenhagen, we celebrate not only Queen Mary’s journey, but also a partnership that grows stronger with each passing year.”