Queen Victoria statue vandalised in Sydney ahead of royal visit

Council workers have worked quickly to clean up a renowned royal statue that was vandalised ahead of the King Charles and Queen Camilla tour of the city.

Council workers have worked quickly to remove the vandalism discovered on a renowned statue of Queen Victoria in Sydney’s CBD, ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s packed day of events in the city.

Red paint was splashed over the historic monument outside the iconic Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s Town Hall overnight.

Red paint pictured splattered over the Queen Victoria statue in Sydney. Credit: 2GB

The bronze statue of Queen Victoria, the second-longest reigning British Monarch, was crafted in 1908 and originally erected in the Irish capital Dublin.

It was shipped over to Sydney in the 1980s.

A crime scene has been set up around the statue and work is underway to restore it.

No arrests have been made.

Cleaners worked to clean the iconic statue of Queen Victoria on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The iconic statue of Queen Victoria sits outside Sydney's Queen Victoria Building in the CBD. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The vandalism is the latest of a series of anti-monarchist events that have overshadowed the royal tour.

After the King addressed a reception at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe heckled the monarch as she tried to serve him a “notice of complicity in Aboriginal genocide”.

Senator Thorpe screamed out “f**k the colony” and “you are not my King”.

Cleaners pictured working to clean the iconic statue. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Her actions have been condemned by the government, opposition and Indigenous leaders.

On Sunday, the royal couple’s first day of events, protesters gathered outside a church where they attended a service.

The group was dwarfed by the hundreds of fans that turned up to greet the King and Queen.

JAM PACKED DAY AHEAD

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will wrap up their quick trip to Australia with a packed day in Sydney, which will include a community barbecue and a traditional meeting of the public at the Opera House.

The royal couple spent the day in Canberra on Monday, where they were largely warmly welcomed by the public and politicians and other dignitaries.

But Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe created a scene during the reception at Parliament House after the King had given a speech highlighting his admiration for all Australians, including First Nations.

Their Majesties had earlier laid a wreath and floral tribute at the Australian War Memorial and later met with charities, and planted trees at Government House and the Botanic Gardens.

King Charles III flashes a cheeky smile as visits Canberra on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On Tuesday, they will start the day with visits to the inner-city.

The King will visit the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence – a not-for-profit social enterprise that works to serve community, build capacity and create opportunities for First Nations peoples.

The Queen will visit Refettorio OzHarvest, an Australian-first social impact collaboration. It serves up to 500 guests a week, free of charge, using fresh, rescued ingredients, to mark the 20th anniversary of OzHarvest. The Queen is a patron of UK Harvest.

She will later go to Green Square Library, where she will present certificates to Queen’s Commonwealth essay competition participants, and later meet authors Liane Moriarty and Tom Keneally.

Queen Camilla greets members of the public in Canberra, however, some were a little more impressed by the cameras. Picture: NewsWire / POOL / Gary Ramage

Large crowds during Their Majesties departure at the forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The royal couple will attend an invitation-only community barbecue at Parramatta Park, hosted by Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna.

The event will showcase the cultural diversity of Western Sydney.

It will feature henna tattooing, backyard cricket and performances by local schools and dance groups.

After lunch, the King will attend a reception by The King’s Foundation, visit the Melanoma Institute Australia and then return to the city, where he and the Queen will greet Australians in front of the Sydney Opera House.

Originally published as Queen Victoria statue vandalised in Sydney ahead of royal visit