King Charles III: Recap of the new monarch’s five visits to the Northern Territory
In his 16 tours of Australia, the now King Charles III visited the Northern Territory five memorable times. Did you see the King in person?
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The wild, outback allure of the Northern Territory has enchanted members of the British royal family time and time again, with the newly-minted King Charles III being no exception.
He’s made five visits to the Northern Territory since the late 1970s and no doubt a sixth tour is on the cards, following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
His first visit to the Northern Territory was in November 1977, eight months after Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had visited the NT.
He visited as Patron of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal for Young Australians.
On March 20, 1983 the then-Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales and baby Prince William landed in Alice Springs.
One of their most historic visits, it was the pair’s first visit to the Territory as a couple but wouldn’t be their last.
The couple was photographed smiling in front of Uluru then climbing on the mammoth rock.
This tour would make global headlines again in 2020 when their visit to Uluru was recreated in season four of the Netflix series, The Crown.
The pair would return to the NT in February 1988 as part of Australia’s 200th anniversary celebrations.
Highlights of their visit were walking through the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, opening St John Ambulance’s headquarters in Alice Springs and going to Tennant Creek.
In February 2005, the first-in-line returned to Alice Springs ahead of his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles in April.
His Royal Highness was offered a Territory-style bucks’ night, with then-Alice Springs alderman Ernie Nicholls assuring the prince wouldn’t end up being chained “naked to the traffic lights”.
“Have you heard anyone else offering one? Everyone’s got to have a bucks night,” Mr Nicholls told media.
“Most people learn after the first, but he wants to have a second run at it so we’ll give him a good send-off.”
The heir-apparent’s last visit to the Territory was in 2018 during his week-long, 16th tour of Australia.
He had opened the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and was ending the tour in the Territory.
It was during this visit he cemented himself as a style icon, battling through the heat in crisp suit, tie and a set of Ray Bans.
He thrilled onlookers with a wave after touching down at Gove Airport and was greeted by a small gathering of dignitaries, including Gumatj clan chieftain Galarrwuy Yunupingu, then-chief minister Michael Gunner and NT Administrator Vicki O’Halloran.
Celebrated yidaki master Mr Gurruwiwi performed a 30-second blessing upon the then-Prince’s arrival, after which he said, “I feel better already.”
He proudly wore a Malka String (feather-stringed headdress) and a Bathi (string basket) presented to him during a welcome ceremony and afterwards, toured the Yirrkala art centre Buku to view artworks from across East Arnhem Land.
The king-in-waiting then travelled to Darwin, greeting community groups at the Royal Flying Service tourist facility at Stokes Hill Wharf.
The next day, the crowd fell silent as His Royal Highness entered Bicentennial Park to pay respect to the nation’s war dead.
He laid a wreath on the Cenotaph and battled the heat as he chatted with students, families and other Territorians.
In his short stay he visited the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre and the Larrakeyah Barracks.
The then-Prince of Wales gave the NT a wave before boarding his flight back to the United Kingdom.
The now King Charles III left Territorians enchanted by his grace and admirable courage for braving the Territory’s heat in a suit, tie and Ray Bans.
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