King Charles, Camilla mix with locals on their last day in Australia
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 III and Queen Camilla dazzled thousands in Sydney when they stepped out in Circular Quay on a glorious Sydney afternoon as crowds cheered at the historic occasion.
An estimated 10,000 people lined the streets and packed into the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House for a royal to return to one of Australia’s most famous landmarks.
A sniper sat atop one of the Sydney Opera House’s sails. Navy choppers circled, flying a giant Australian flag.
The water in Sydney Harbour was sparkling and the sky was sunny and clear — the perfect day for a royal visit.
A police helicopter drew closer and cheers grew louder; the King and Queen had arrived to meet the adoring public.
Charles and Camilla waved at the thousands as they slowly approached, driving past the public as they made their way to the Sydney Opera House’s entrance.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna Minns greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla as they exited the vehicle, welcoming them to the building visited on many royal visits.
The four walked up the world-famous 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 waiting 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.
The royal couple were taken to the official guest book, signing their names in black pen on an open page. The couple were shown pages signed by other esteemed guests before continuing on.
The King, Queen, Premier and Mrs Minns walked to the western edge of the top of the Sydney Opera House, where they posed for a photo with the Harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge behind them.
The King waved towards the harbour as cheers bellowed from punters who caught a glimpse of the royals from Opera Bar on the building edge.
Smoking ceremony marks royal gathering
A small crowd gathered outside the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on Tuesday 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.
“We’ve got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday,” Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council Allan Murray said.
“Welcome to Gadigal land.”
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.
She said she had been taught respect and was looking forward to meeting the king.
“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.
He then went into a private meeting with key Indigenous Elders.
Warner, a Wiggle among guests at regal BBQ
At a BBQ in Parramatta Park, the King chatted to cricketer David Warner, original Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and comedian Ahn Do, as well as religious and cultural leaders and volunteers.
The King had a sombre meeting with Amy Scott, the hero of the Bondi stabbings in April, when she told him briefly about the terrifying ordeal.
The King and the Queen had a turn on the tongs at the Surf Lifesaver’s BBQ – the king picked up the sausages and the queen poked at them, before both jokingly snapped the tongs and handed them back.
Speaking alongside Mr Minns at a community barbecue, King Charles reflected on over five decades visiting Sydney’s west.
“It is always a particular pleasure to return to the neighbourhood.
“That is why, if I may say so, I’m so delighted to be here in Parramatta, an excellent choice for a community barbecue, since Parramatta was a place where First Nations people from around the region also came together for generations to meet and trade food.
“It’s a particular delight to see and smell all the top tucker here today from Western Sydney’s vibrant and diverse community.”
Queen books time at local library
At Sydney’s Green Square public library, Camilla sat down with students for a celebration 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’. He said “The red veil symbolises marriage in the Hindu community. It reminds me of how much my parents came through. They came from India.”
She also met best-selling Australian authors Liane Moriarty, who wrote Big Little Lies, and Thomas Keneally and met with 10 Sydney book club representatives who were given book bundles provided by The Queen’s Reading Room.
The Queen’s Reading Room is a charity and Instagram book club of Her Majesty Queen Camilla that champions literature in the UK and beyond.
“The Queen asked me how I started writing and I told her the story of how my father used to commission me to write novels when I was 10,” said Liane Moriarty afterwards. “She asked me if he paid well. I said no. I didn’t have an agent – I do now.”
Charles and Camilla are set to fly out on Wednesday morning.
With Julian Rieden and Jordan Baker
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