Hundreds of fans welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla in Sydney on Sunday as they attended church, with the king expressing his “great joy” at returning to Australia.
This visit marks Charles’ first trip as king to an overseas territory and his 16th visit to Australia overall. He had attended school in the country for six months in 1966.
In a speech at the New South Wales parliament, he spoke fondly about his long-standing love for Australia and its people. Local lawmaker Kellie Sloane shared that the king sent his best wishes to the surf clubs at Bondi Beach after they spoke.
The royal couple was greeted at St Thomas’ Anglican Church by the archbishop and children waving Australian flags. Camilla received a bouquet of flowers, and when asked about jet lag from their long flight, she humorously said they were recovering “sort of.”
Inside the church, they signed two bibles, including one that belonged to Australia’s first minister from the 1788 First Fleet.
After the church service, Charles and Camilla met a large crowd of cheering supporters, with some singing “God Save the King.” This was the first chance for the public to meet the couple since their arrival on Friday night.
The king also visited the New South Wales parliament to celebrate its 200th anniversary, where he gave lawmakers an hourglass to help time their speeches.
He emphasized the importance of strong parliaments in supporting democracy.
Next, the royal couple will travel to Canberra to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and visit the Australian War Memorial. After their six-day tour of Australia, Charles will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
Notably, he has also made a significant donation to create a skills program focused on climate change and higher education for small island nations【Reuters】.