By james art Charles and Camilla tapped into the country’s cultural life from sharing a hug with a local elder to helping chefs tend to the grill – or sausages – at a community barbecue in Sydney’s suburbs.
At the end of the long, hot day, the Queen took off her shoes and wore them as she climbed the stairs of Admiralty House, the official residence of the Governor-General, where the couple are staying.
Thousands turned out to see the king and his wife at the landmark attraction, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, as their six-day tour of Australia drew to a close.
Thousands turned out to see the king and his wife at the landmark attraction, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, as their six-day tour of Australia drew to a close.
British actress Joanna Lumley, who is staging her solo show at the Sydney Opera House, met the couple and during a meet-the-audience moment, Charles and Camilla shook hands with dozens of people waiting behind barriers.
Earlier, the king clashed for a second day with First Nations activists questioning the supremacy of the British monarchy in Australia.
When Charles met Indigenous elders during a visit to the National Center for Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, one of them, Alan Murray, told him their goal was “sovereignty” and referred to comments by Senator Lydia Thorpe, who on Monday accused the king of “genocide” against First Nations.
Mr Murray, of the Metropolitan Aboriginal Lands Council, said after the visit: “We always long for our sovereignty to be returned. We are a sovereign nation, we have never signed a formal agreement or treaty.
“The Union Jack was placed on our land without our consent. We were ignored. We cannot rest on our laurels.”
During his visit to the centre, the king shared a hug with uncle James Michael Welsh, a survivor of Australia’s Stolen Generation, when First Nations children were taken from their parents to assimilate into white society.
Charles held out his hand and Mr Welsh said he told the king “I’m not much of a handshaker, I’m more of a hugger or cuddler” and Charles replied “hugs are good” and the two men embraced.
He added: “I wouldn’t mind sitting down and talking to him to be honest and tell him everything that’s happened and how I can help the kids that are coming for a better future.”
Meanwhile, when the Queen visited Refettorio OzHarvest, a community center providing free lunches to the vulnerable, she was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon, a symbolic initiative highlighting how small changes matter.
Outside, a well-wisher had brought their nine-year-old parrot Caesar and Camilla kept saying ‘hello Caesar’ until cheers erupted when he finally said hello.
Charles’ visit was his first visit to Australia as king, despite his cancer diagnosis and an overseas tour cut short on medical advice, with a visit to New Zealand dropped from the itinerary.
Professor Richard Scolier, assistant medical director of the Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA), said the royal’s decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis was “brave” after Charles visited the centre.
Prof Scholer, one of the world’s leading melanoma specialists, said: “It is brave of the King to go public with his cancer journey.”
Charles has discontinued treatment while he is away from the UK, and Professor Georgina Long, MIA’s assistant medical director, said: “This is a common discussion I have with patients and my view, as well as that of my colleagues, is that we’re here for quality of life, and that’s how you push things, make them happen for people.”
The King and Camilla will travel on Wednesday to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a gathering of world leaders whose discussions will be officially launched by Charles.