Australian Teen: Oh My God, I Just Talked to the Queen
Thousands of people were on the streets of Sydney on Tuesday, eager to see King Charles and Queen Camilla, in front of the iconic Opera House, in the late afternoon sun.
For Buckingham Palace, it was the ideal end to the royal tour of Australia.
The outlook was positive. Despite a headline-grabbing protest in Canberra on Monday, public opinion on the ground in Sydney was favorable.
But getting to this point – with the trip successfully completed before a poignant farewell – will have been a huge relief for royal aides.
Reuters
King Charles met with the Indigenous community in Sydney during his visit to Australia
In February, it seemed unlikely that the tour would take place as the king had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.
But it remained on the agenda with modifications on the advice of doctors.
The duration of this visit was shorter and the engagements were organized to avoid early departures and late arrivals.
Even with the changes, the King and Queen's schedule remains busy.
On Tuesday alone, the royal couple visited a national indigenous center of excellence, a food bank, a social housing project, a literacy initiative, a community barbecue, met two leading cancer researchers, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House and a naval vessel. examination in Sydney Harbour.
An Australian branch of the King's Foundation has been officially launched, developing a charity that promotes sustainability and provides training in traditional craft skills.
These trips are a series of very diverse events, with crowds demanding attention each time – and the king seems to have acquitted himself well.
Reuters
Queen Camilla meets the crowd in Sydney
His health problems did not manifest and he appeared moved by the public reaction during his first visit here as monarch.
Monday's protest at Parliament House in Canberra was uncomfortable but not unexpected.
The King met many protesters over the years and came to Australia knowing that republican sentiment and campaigns in support of indigenous communities were likely to arise.
His presence here in Australia immediately draws attention to the king's role as head of state and reopens the question of whether this is appropriate for modern Australia.
Although Republican sentiment here is bubbling beneath the surface, except for the ruckus in Parliament, it has not flared up significantly during this trip.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a supporter of a republic, has been alongside the King and Queen at several engagements and has spoken warmly of his royal guests.
Before the disruption in Parliament, the Prime Minister formally welcomed the King to Canberra.
“You have shown great respect for Australians, even at a time when we were debating the future of our own constitutional arrangements and the nature of our relationship with the Crown. Nothing stops,” Albanese said.
PA Media
Crowds outside the Sydney Opera House held up their phones to capture the visit.
