King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a church service in Sydney with the local congregation on their first day of activities during the Australian tour.
This marks King Charles’ first visit to Australia since his ascension as the head of state in September 2022, and it is his most significant trip since the onset of his cancer treatment in February.
During their six-day stay, they will engage with political and community leaders across Australia, celebrating the nation’s diverse culture and heritage.
They participated in the service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney, led by the city’s Archbishop, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel.
Following the service, the royal couple greeted a crowd of a few hundred, who had been waiting since early morning for a chance to meet them and share a moment.
For many, this brief interaction included exchanging hellos, presenting flowers, and snapping photos.
Among the attendees was Lyn Tarbuck, alongside her republican husband, Bob, and their two King Charles spaniels.
She expressed her support for the monarchy, noting, “If we face challenges in Australia, they’re here to assist us. Despite our vast land, we’re small in population, so all help is appreciated.”
Roslyn Durie, who had previously seen the Queen in 1980, felt overwhelmed after receiving “a firm handshake” from the King.
Sandra Hall, alongside her husband, Peter, also met the royals. She described their encounter, noting the pleasant weather and Charles’ quip, “It’s always sunny in Sydney.”
Outside the church, a small but vocal group of about 20 protesters declared “not our King,” with police intervening to remove their loud hailers before the royal arrivals.
On their rest day, a photo of the King and Queen at Admiralty House was shared, capturing their moment of arrival. The nearby Sydney Opera House showcased images of the royals as part of a special lighting display.
The King has also been appointed to the highest honorary ranks within the Australian Defence Force’s three services during this visit.
Additionally, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, with the King as patron, introduced the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship program to address critical issues in small island developing states.
The program was created to address the critical economic, social, and environmental challenges faced by small island developing states.
“There is so much we can learn from one another as we work together within the Commonwealth to tackle the major challenges of our age and, as these fellowships do in small island developing states, to address them where they are felt most acutely,” the King has said.
During his visit, King Charles will participate in environmental initiatives and attend a naval review in Sydney Harbour.
The 75-year-old King is scheduled to meet Australian researchers Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, who are at the forefront of melanoma research, a prevalent cancer in Australia.
A reception is planned in the capital on Monday to receive King Charles, although the premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania have indicated they cannot attend.
A post from the Royal Family’s social media account mentioned that the King will speak at the Australian parliament in Canberra during his visit.
King Charles has paused his cancer treatment for the duration of his visit to Australia and the upcoming segment in Samoa, where he will participate in a Commonwealth leaders’ summit.
The itinerary for the royal tour excludes evening functions, state dinners, and late-night outings.
On the Royal Family’s social media, a message stated: “Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special.”
