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King Charles and Queen Camilla’s packed Canberra visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla are to arrive in Australia’s capital with a full itinerary and a big welcome from Parliament House. See photos and follow updates.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will fly to the national capital on Monday morning, with a number of public events on the royal agenda.
On arrival into Canberra, Their Majesties will be invited to disembark the aircraft by Arthur Spyrou, Head of Commonwealth Protocol.
Local children will welcome Their Majesties as they arrive in Canberra.
Aunty Serena Williams will deliver a Welcome to Country, followed by a smoking ceremony.
Camilla will be presented with a posy by the Ruby (Bonython Primary School) and Indigo (Cranleigh School).
First up they will pay their respects at the Australian War Memorial, which they last visited for the Remembrance Day Ceremony in 2015.
They will lay a wreath and floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier in the Hall of Memory. The Last Post will be played, then a minute silence observed.
King will be invited to place a poppy against the name of Private William Punch and the Queen will place a poppy against the name of Private William James Johnson.
They will greet the public before visiting the memorial and sculpture garden of For Our Country, which commemorates the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The visit is expected around 12.35pm.
Navy Sub Lieutenant Jordon Bradshaw will play the didgeridoo.
Around 1pm, the King and Queen are expected to appear on the forecourt of Parliament House, where they will receive an Indigenous Ceremonial Welcome.
At Parliament House, a 21 gun salute will ring out and the King will receive a Royal Salute and be invited to inspect the Royal Guard of Honour, accompanied by the Royal Guard Commander and His Majesty’s Australian Equerry before attending a parliamentary reception hosted by prime minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon.
Guests will include federal and state elected representatives and key representatives from the King’s charities, patronages, and Australians from a range of industries, sports, arts and cultural organisations.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to reappear on the forecourt of Parliament House around 2.10pm, where there will be some meeting and greeting with ordinary Australians.
The Queen will attend a discussion on family and domestic violence in Australia, hosted by the Governor-General and chaired by Ms Padma Raman PSM, Executive Director of the Office for Women.
Members of the public who wish to see the royal visitors have been asked to assemble no later than 11.40am.
The visit should also give the King and Queen the opportunity to see progress on the $550 million development and expansion of the War Memorial, a massive project due for completion in 2028.
It’s set to be a stunning day in Canberra, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting sunny conditions and a pleasant 24°C.
Charles and Camilla have visited Canberra twice before, in 2012 and 2015, but this marks their first visit as King and Queen.
The royal couple are expected to return to Sydney later on Monday afternoon, before a full day of events in Sydney on Tuesday.
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