King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Sydney for royal visit

They were supposed to fly over Sydney as giant photographs of their own faces stared back at them from the Opera House sails. Instead, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were met by sporadic rain as they arrived for the king’s first tour as monarch.

The couple arrived at Kingsford Smith Airport on Friday evening aboard a Royal Air Force Jet after the King made the unusual decision to travel on a commercial flight for the first leg of the journey. He had left Britain without his wife, with whom he reunited in Singapore for trip to Sydney.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Sydney to start their 5 day tour of Australia.Credit: Janie Barrett

A posse of Australia’s most important people awaited them, including the governor-general and the prime minister, with their spouses, and the NSW Premier Chris Minns with his mother Cara.

Just before 8.45pm, the King stepped onto Australian soil, leading the way ahead of Queen Camilla, who trailed behind sheltering herself with an umbrella from the drizzling rain.

Queen Camilla arrived wearing the Australian Wattle Brooch gifted to Queen Elizabeth by the Australian government 70 years ago.

After a brief welcome, the pair was ushered into a motorcade and whisked away from the runway.

The dignitaries present were joined by Ky and his sister Charlotte, whose presentation of a posy is the fulfilment of a wish through the Make a Wish Foundation.

The montage of royal photographs was scheduled to illuminate the sails for four minutes at 8pm to coincide with the couple’s arrival but was delayed because of a tardy cruise ship. “The photo projection on the Opera House sails celebrates a historic moment … and is a fitting tribute,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns.

After a brief welcome, the pair was ushered into a private car and whisked away from the runway.Credit: Janie Barrett

Sharing a photograph with the King and Queen, taken inside Admiralty House, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on social media: “A warm welcome back to Australia.”

“Their Majesties have a deep regard for Australia, and this visit will be an opportunity to showcase the very best of our modern and dynamic nation,” he said.

In a post, the palace said: “Thank you for the special welcome, Australia!”

This is the royal tour that almost didn’t happen, after the 74-year-old king was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February. Original plans were pared back; New Zealand was kicked off the itinerary, and there will be no state dinners.

Having suspended treatment for the nine-day trip - which includes a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa – the king will be accompanied by two doctors and a supply of his own blood, the Times of London reported.

The royals have also taken the unusual step of clearing the first day of their tour to rest after the 24-hour journey.

Sydney’s racing king, Racing NSW boss Peter V’Landys, is hoping the monarch will have recovered enough to make a private trip to the Everest racing carnival for the King Charles III Stakes on Saturday, and told media outlets this week that the king was keen to come.

However, his attendance is unlikely; the Times′ royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah on Friday wrote on X that “The King and Queen will not be at the races tomorrow”, as they will take a “down day” after their flight.

The itinerary is busy, although still modest by royal standards. They will spend time in Sydney and Canberra, visiting the War Memorial and Parliament House for a reception.

They will learn about efforts to combat bushfires at the CSIRO, tour the National Botanic Gardens, and meet the Australians of the Year, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, who are saving lives through their work on melanoma.

The queen has booked some solo engagements, such as a visit to a library in Sydney and a discussion about family violence in Canberra.

On Tuesday evening, members of the public can see the king and queen at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, a favourite destination for visiting royals ranging from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, to the Queen in 2006, to Charles with his former wife, the late Diana, in 1983.