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King Charles and Queen Camilla meet members of the public in Australia (Image: Getty)
King Charles and Queen Camilla received a rapturous welcome as they kickstarted their first day of public engagements in Australia on Sunday morning.
The royal couple, who enjoyed a down day yesterday after their gruelling flight, were met with loud cheers from the hundreds of well-wishers gathered as they arrived at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney in the glorious sunshine.
But a small group of anti-monarchy protestors also gathered outside under a large decolonise banner, a visual reminder of the republic debate simmering in Australia.
Charles, 75, and Camilla, 77, spoke to primary school-aged children from the Thomas’ Sunday school group who were brimming with enthusiasm to meet Their Majesties.
They had patiently waited for over an hour and when officials started arriving one boy excitedly shouted: “Are they here?!”
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The youngsters proudly waved their Australian flags as the King and Queen arrived and walked over to speak to them.
Camilla, wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, was gifted a posy before they were received by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel and the Bishop of North Sydney, Right Reverend Chris Edwards.
A small number of protestors - around nine near the Church entrance and others 100m away - used a megaphone to shout their support for Indigenous rights, waved Palestinian and Lebanon flags and held a banner reading "decolonisation".
A handful of locals shouted "get lost" and "get a life" in frustration as they walked past, while one man told them: "Be thankful you live in a free society where you can argue across the street."
When the King and Queen left the church later on, the royal fans drowned out the protestors and they were no longer visible.
Inside, the Archbishop welcomed the congregation and highlighted St Thomas’ royal history before the Reverend Michael Mantle, Rector of the Parish of North Sydney.
Starting by welcoming the royal guests, he said: “It is an enormous honour for us to welcome you to our church this morning.”
The theme of the service was ‘The Good News About Jesus’ and featured hymns Rejoice the Lord is King, Tell Out, My Soul and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
King Charles spent time chatting to members of the public (Image: Getty)
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Throughout the service, a lone flute could be heard from outside playing “God Save the King”.
Speaking afterwards professional flutist Minah Kim said she only learnt the piece this morning while standing on the lawn outside St Thomas’.
“We got it up [the sheet music] on our phones and she learned it and started practising,” said Anna Usher who stood next to her.
At the conclusion of the hour-long service, the King and Queen were wished safe travels for the rest of their trip before they made their way to the front where they signed Australia’s first Bible and a book of common prayer.
Every member of the Royal Family has signed that Bible, which belonged to Rev Richard Johnson, the first Christian Minister in Australia, on previous royal visits.
The late Queen Elizabeth signed it in 1954 during the first visit of a reigning monarch to these shores, with the Archbishop saying the Bible “represents a significant history of this church and nation”.
Using his own fountain pen the King signed the Bible before turning to ask: “What day is it again?” He chuckled and moved on to sign the prayer book, before handing the pen to his wife to sign.
Queen Camilla has asked for the flowers to be taken back to Admiralty House (Image: Getty)
Stepping outside to loud cheers from the hundreds gathered on the lawn opposite the church, the King waved before walking over to speak to members of the public.
Charles said to one person: “It’s a beautiful day” as several people shouted: “We love you.”
Another said to the Queen “hello, I hope your jet leg is getting better” before the pair spoke about the perils of long-haul travel.
“We have it the same when we come to the UK,” Helen Hetrelezis told Camilla.
The wellwisher had arrived at the church at 7:45 am with her brothers to try and catch a glimpse of Their Majesties.
“We spoke about her visit, I asked the queen about her stay, and she said she was enjoying Sydney very much,” Hetrelezis said.
They spent 15 minutes meeting the hundreds of members of the public gathered to welcome Their Majesties, and even asked their security if they could walk over to the crowds gathered opposite the church before they left.
King Charles and Queen Camilla signed the first Australian Bible (Image: Getty)
Ms Usher, who was stood next to the flautist, said excitedly: “I shook his hand. I’m absolutely thrilled that he is here in our neck of the woods. He looks in great health.”
As they moved along the crowds, spontaneous rounds of three cheers erupted from the crowds and people continued to whoop and cheer.
Among the wellwishers were Sinclair and Wendy Hill, old friends of the King who have hosted him at their home in Australia. Mr Hill, who is described as Australia's greatest-ever polo player, was asked by Prince Philip to teach the young Charles and has kept up a warm friendship ever since.
Mrs Hill, whom the King greeted with a kiss on each cheek, said afterwards: "He is a lovely man and the fact that he has not been well and still came... The effort he puts in to talk to all these people. I thought he looked terrific."
Dozens of well-wishes handed gifts to Their Majesties, including Tunnock’s Tea Cakes, Kangaroo jerky and bouquets of flowers.
The Queen has requested all of the flowers be taken to Admiralty House, where they are staying while in Sydney.
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended church this morning (Image: Getty)
Abigail Smith, 10, in her Scouts uniform, gave the King a special present.
She said: “I drew a picture of a kangaroo and gave it to him. He said ‘you are very kind’. I did it because the kangaroo is an Australian animal. I think he liked it.”
The church presented the royal visitors with gifts including a rugby ball, cricket ball and toy koala for them to take home for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Speaking afterwards the Archbishop said: “It’s been a great pleasure and privilege to have their majesties with us here at St Thomas’, North Sydney.
“This church has a family connection with His Majesty because his great grandfather as a teenage boy laid the cornerstone.”
In 1881 the then Prince George laid a cornerstone of St Thomas’ on his visit with his brother Prince Albert when they were 16 and 17 respectively.
The King and Queen delighted in meeting Australians (Image: Getty)
The King then travelled to the New South Wales Legislative Council to mark its bicentenary, marking his first major ceremonial duty on his visit Down Under.
Joking about the “slightly worrying” fact that he first came to the country nearly 60 years ago, the monarch spoke of his joy at returning as King having last visited the NSW parliamentary building in 1974, saying: “With the sands of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is to come to Australia for the first time as Sovereign and to renew a love of this country and its people which I have cherished for so long.
“So, thank you, thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen for making me feel so very welcome.”
He appeared delighted to hand over a gift of an hourglass to mark the occasion, before asking the President of the Legislative Council, The Honourable Ben Franklin, if he could give the hourglass a spin for good luck.
Charles, who was not accompanied by the queen, was greeted by a line-up of dignitaries at the parliamentary building.
Inside he was shown a large piece of artwork by artist Kim Healey, the first by an indigenous artist to be displayed in the building.
“It’s actually painted?” he asked, marvelling at the brushstrokes of the striking piece.
At a reception and lunch for state representatives in the Strangers’ Dining Room the King was introduced with a fanfare and walked in on a red carpet in a ceremonial procession.
King Charles with Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Admiralty House (Image: Getty)
King Charles meets with New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley at Admiralty House (Image: Getty)
In a short speech on stage, the king said: “Having been with you for your 150th Anniversary, I am delighted – and proud – to be able to return to the Parliament of New South Wales in order to celebrate the occasion of your bicentenary.”
He continued: “Since I was here in 1974, and incidentally I first came to Oz nearly 60 hrs ago, which is slightly worrying — this place and the people within it — have continued to uphold strong representative traditions.
“To everyone who has been a part of this, I can only offer my warmest congratulations.”
Afterwards, he was introduced to senior legislative officials, the indigenous artist whose work he had admired, as well as the winner of a regional public speaking contest.
As he left the building, the King made a beeline to the well-wishers waiting to see him.
As the king went up and down the crowd shaking hands he was greeted with choruses of “welcome back”, “great to see you” and “thank you for coming”.
“It’s fantastic to be here,” he said. “I am so pleased to be back.”
The King then travelled to Admiralty House to be reunited with his wife for an audience with the Governor-General and her husband Simeon Beckett.
He then held an audience with the Governor of New South Wales, Margaret Bleazy, without the Queen to conclude the day’s engagements.
Tomorror, the royal couple will travel to Canberra where they will be officially welcomed to the country.
They will attend events at the Australian Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and the National Botanic Gardens as well as separate engagements reflecting their own work.
English (US) ·