An Aboriginal protester was arrested at the Sydney Opera House as crowds waited to see the King and Queen on the final day of their tour of Australia.
Crowds of people gathered on the port square, where the royal couple is due to go on Tuesday afternoon.
Wayne Wharton, a prominent Brisbane indigenous activist, was arrested after shouting anti-monarchist slogans and refusing a police order to move on.
It comes as backlash following an Indigenous senator's heckling of King Charles in Canberra on Monday mounts, with politicians and some Indigenous leaders condemning Lidia Thorpe's behavior.
Mr Wharton had shouted “he is not my king”, echoing Thorpe's words the day before.
The crowd waiting for the royals – many of whom waved mini Union Jack flags – responded “God save the king”.
Mr Wharton had also protested outside the church service attended by members of the royal family on Sunday.
When the Kooma man was arrested and placed in a police van on Tuesday, the gathered crowd applauded the officers.
Many of the hundreds of people had been queuing since Tuesday morning, some draped in British flags. Others accessorized with royal-themed jewelry and handbags.
“We want to celebrate our country and all its people,” said Karen Clark, with her little boys Benjamin and Harrison who both wore crowns and capes adorned with faux fur.
“We grew up with the king, we celebrate the king's birthday with the boys – it's fun to have tea and dress up in our best outfits.”
“My father was from Liverpool and I was always interested in the Royals,” says Bettina Bethuel who came with her friend Taja Shephard.
Taja saw Thorpe's heckling on TV and was not impressed.
“I thought it was a little rude, but I guess she’s making her point in favor of indigenous people,” she said. “But I don’t think the way she behaved was appropriate.”
Across town, King Charles visited the National Center for Aboriginal Excellence in Redfern on Tuesday, where he met with Aboriginal elders.
The independent senator's protest was hailed by some Indigenous activists as courageous, but condemned by other prominent Aboriginal Australians as “embarrassing” and disrespectful.
This decision was also strongly criticized by his parliamentary peers.
