A poignant audience with Barbecue King in a neighbourhood so close to his heart

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by a perfect Sydney day and enthusiastic locals across the city on their final full day in Australia.

King Charles tends to the sausages at a community barbecue in Parramatta in Sydney’s west on Tuesday, watched by NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

It was the King’s last full day in Australia, and perhaps his last visit to these shores.

But safe to say, it was a much warmer welcome than the foul-mouthed tirade dished out by independent senator Lidia Thorpe in the Great Hall at Parliament House on Monday.

At a lunchtime barbecue in Parramatta Park, Charles was on firmer ground, chatting to cricketer Dave Warner, original Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and comedian Ahn Do.

The King and the Queen had a turn on the tongs at the Surf ­Lifesavers barbecue – the King picked up the sausages and the Queen poked at them, before both jokingly snapped the tongs and handed them back.

The King reflected on more than five decades visiting Sydney’s west. “It is always a particular pleasure to return to the neighbourhood,” he said. “It’s a particular delight to see and smell all the top tucker here today from western Sydney’s vibrant and diverse community.”

Sydney turned out in force on Tuesday to greet Charles and Camilla at the close of this flying visit – and both the King and Queen seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the welcome.

A crowd of 10,000 lined the streets and forecourt of the ­Sydney Opera House, many ­getting the opportunity to shake hands with the King or present flowers to the Queen.

It wasn’t the near-hysteria of the famous visit, a little more than 40 years ago when it seemed the whole city turned out to catch a glimpse of the then-Prince and his new bride, Diana, but this time around the King seemed more ­relaxed. He has put his cancer ­treatment on hold to make the journey, accompanied by the love of his life, Camilla, now the Queen.

The bond Charles feels for Australia, after a near 60-year ­relationship with the country, was evident as he stopped and chatted to people in the crowd.

A Royal Australian Navy veteran cried after she spoke to Charles about her 30-year career “in service of Queen, King and Country”.

Cath Harvey had lined up ­outside the Opera House since 11am, travelling from Branxton in the Hunter Valley in the hopes of meeting the couple. She wore her medals, she told The Australian, so she might stand out.

King Charles greets the crowd that had gathered to see him outside the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

“I met the Queen first and I thanked her for making my King so happy and filled with joy and then I met the King,” Ms Harvey said, her voice shaking.

“Before the King watched the children perform, he turned to me and he had seen the medals and came straight over to me after the children had performed.

“He said ‘hello’ and asked me if the medals were mine. I said it’s an honour to meet you after serving you and your mother for 30 years and he asked me which service, and I said navy, and he had a big smile because he’s a navy man.”

She said meeting the King was better that seeing the Taylor Swift Eras tour – “because I’m a ­monarchist”.

Young Anny Chen, who was part of a group of schoolchildren who danced for the King, was bursting with pride that the Queen complimented her curtsy.

“I feel so privileged to be here … It was actually quite nice. She was really sweet,” she said.

Also among the crowd was Jim Frecklington, who makes state coaches for the royal family at his northern beaches workshop. He is making a new state carriage for the King at the moment – the first since before Captain Cook came to Australia. He shook his hand. “It was wonderful. It was good to see him once again.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna greeted the royal couple as they arrived at the Opera House, welcoming them to a building that has seen many royal visits. The four walked up the steps as crowds cheered from the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens. The King turned and waved, delighting those who hadn’t gotten onto the forecourt. As they reached the top of the steps, the royals were introduced to six special guests: British actor Dame Joanna Lumley, actor Heather Mitchell, acrobat and dancer Lucia Richardson, singer Jin Tea Kim, artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre Francis Rings and Sydney Symphony orchestra principal bass clarinet player Alexander Morris greeted the royal couple at the top of the stairs.

Earlier, a small crowd gathered outside the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern to meet the King, while Queen Camilla was at another engagement. On arrival they were greeted by National Indigenous Australians Agency chief executive Jody Broun and regional manager Leon Donovan before being welcomed with a smoking ceremony in the courtyard.

A day after the king’s appearance at Parliament House in ­Canberra was overshadowed by a loud protest from Senator Thorpe, the chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Murray Allan, said: “We’ve got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday. Welcome to Gadigal land.”

Charles and Camilla cook sausages in Parramatta. Picture: AFP

Chants could be heard from outside the centre on Tuesday including “you’re on stolen land” and “no pride in genocide”.

The King was then led to meet Beryl Booth, who served his majesty 40 years earlier during another Australian tour. This time, Aunty Beryl served the King kangaroo pies, before he was rushed off to the sports hall.

“I’m honoured to have him here because I grew up with respect,” she said before his arrival.

The King was then greeted by traditional Indigenous dancers from Brolga Dance Academy and the Mui Mui Bedlam dance group alongside a series of NICE staff before a private meeting with key Indigenous elders.

The royal couple check out sheep. Picture: AFP

At Sydney’s Green Square public library, Camilla sat down with students for a celebration of writing and literacy in the lives of talented young Australians.

Maya, 10, from Chifley Primary School read her insightful tale called The Lonely Sea. It was all about saving the ocean and the need for children’s voices to be heard. Aryan, 13, read Her Majesty a beautiful story called The Red Veil, which symbolised marriage in the Hindu community.

Additional reporting: Julian Rieden, Jordan Baker