Prince Charles, Camilla in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns

PRINCE Charles and his wife Camilla have visited Queensland’s biggest children’s hospital, following a public meet-and-greet in the City Botanic Gardens.

NINE-year-old Charlotte Kimber has given the biggest performance of her life - and made a royal fan in the process.

The youngster played the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla her original tune called Sunshine Song during their visit to Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Hospital today, on the first official day of their latest Australian visit. Charlotte wrote the song the last time she was in hospital and said she was “quite nervous” about playing it for royalty. “I am happy I did it ... they were nice,” she said. The budding songwriter said she was thrilled when the Duchess of Cornwall asked if she could keep the lyrics to her song. The Prince and Camilla were greeted by hundreds of staff and patients and even a round of applause when they walked into the hospital. Charles and Camilla in Brisbane After stopping to greet waiting children and staff, they were ushered upstairs to level six where they were met by 13-year-old Abbi Head, who has only recently finished chemotherapy. The couple chatted easily with Abbi before making their way over to see the work done by the music therapy unit at the hospital. Abbi said it was one of the most exciting experiences of her life. The teenager, who was diagnosed with bone cancer, said although she had a sick stomach this morning she powered through for her special meeting. “It was a bit scary at first (but then) I started getting to know them and talking to them,” she said. “It was very casual.” Abbi said she joked to Prince Charles about playing the ukulele. “He told me he played the cello ... a fancy ukulele,” she said. The royal couple were treated to a performance of dancing by a roomful of excited children to Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling. They then became the latest big names to be part of hospital’s Juiced TV, joining stars including Thor star Chris Hemsworth. Charles and Camilla in Brisbane Juiced TV - a TV show made for kids in hospital by kids in hospital - stars Elizabeth Ross, nine, and Max Bishop, 12, showed Charles and Camilla how to make lamingtons. “I got a little embarrassed when Camilla said ‘hi’ I was like ‘oh my gosh’,” Elizabeth said. Max asked Camilla, who was wearing a green lace Fiona Clare dress, if she had a favourite Commonwealth Games sport. “She said she liked the swimming and when I asked her if she thought England had a chance she said she thought Australia would win the swimming,” he said. Prince Charles will tonight officially open the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Earlier, several thousand flag-waving and cheering royal fans have welcomed Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to Brisbane before the Prince opens the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games tonight. The royal couple touched down in Brisbane on a RAAF plane at 12.20pm, after reportedly spending time visiting friends in Gundagai in country NSW. Their first stop was Old Government House at the Botanic Gardens for the formal welcome to Australia. The waiting crowd yelled “welcome” as Charles and Camilla were greeted by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, representing the prime minister. Princes Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall do a spot of cooking at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital After entering Old Government House, the royals and the Cosgroves exchanged some quiet, warm pleasantries, and Camilla smiled at the UK and Australian media contingent as she realised she had been left holding her umbrella. But she politely declined an offer from a staffer to take it. The royal couple signed the guest book and posed for an official photo with Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove, before walking into a private area for a chat. Camilla donned an elegant, wide-brimmed Philip Treacy hat to match her pale green Fiona Clare dress before heading back outside for the official ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute fired from across the river at Kangaroo Point. The heir to the British throne inspected the royal guard of honour and God Save the Queen and the Australian anthem were performed. Excited onlookers yelled out “Prince Charles!” before the royal couple split up to go to opposite sides of the barrier to shake as many hands as possible, with hundreds getting up close to the royals, during a break in the rain. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Prince Charles stopped to speak to Vanessa Cull from Runcorn, asking about the Girl Guides, asking whether it was hard to find leaders these days. Chris Joyce, from Brisbane, spoke to Prince Charles about the weather. “I just said that it’s been rather hot lately,” Mr Joyce said. “He said ‘thank goodness the gardens are still here and it hasn’t been built on.” Penelope Edwards spoke with Camilla, who asked about the Commonwealth Games, the reason for the official royal visit. “She said ‘I hope you’re going to watch the opening ceremony at the Games tonight,’” Ms Edwards said. Ms Edwards replied emphatically: “Absolutely!” Another man told the future king that he shook his hand in the 90s. Girl Guide Annabel Lauder, 12, helped collect flowers handed to the royals by Brisbane people during the walk. Annabel’s father, Brad Lauder, said her English grandfather Robert Marshall had also met Prince Charles, when he was working at a magistrates court in England.

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