Royal Tour 2014: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Uluru

The red sandstone monolith is a sacred site for Aboriginal people

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Uluru on Tuesday, as part of their official tour of Australia.

The bright red sandstone monolith is one of Australia's most iconic sights, standing almost 350 metres high, more than two miles long, and a mile wide.

Having been sacred to the country's Aboriginal community for thousands of years, the first European to see the natural wonder was the explorer William Gosse in the late 19th century. He named it Ayers Rock after the then Chief Secretary of New South Wales.

The Aboriginal name for the striking feature - Uluru - is now widely used.

As part of the couple's visit to the town of Yulara, members of the local Aboriginal community performed a traditional song and dance at the Uluru Cultural Centre.

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The couple were also presented with gifts of jewellery and a wooden spear.

After the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory hosted the couple for tea, the Duke and Duchess watched the sun set over Uluru.

The visit was the couple's second night away from their son Prince George during their 19-day tour of Australia and New Zealand, who is staying with his nanny in Canberra.

Additional reporting by agencies