With renewed talk of republicanism sweeping Australia, King Charles and Queen Camilla feared the worst as they landed in Sydney in rain and darkness.
But they were swiftly buoyed by the sight of the public turning out in droves to cheer and just catch a glimpse of them leaving the airport late on Friday night.
Charles was said to be ‘tickled’ by the sight of a lady in her dressing gown, ‘waving madly’ after dashing from her home to see his car drive past during the 20-minute trip into the city.
‘She had obviously just been getting ready for bed but heard the convoy’s sirens and was super-excited, so she rushed out. It definitely tickled everyone,’ said a source.
The relief at the exuberant public reception showed in the beaming smiles on the couple’s faces as they arrived to stay at Admiralty House at the start of a six-day visit.
King Charles and Queen Camilla feared the worst as they landed in Sydney in rain and darkness – but were buoyed by the warm welcome they received
Welcome to Sydney: King Charles III and Queen Camilla greeted by Sam Mostyn, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Ms Jodie Haydon
An image of King Charles and Queen Camilla is projected onto Sydney Opera House, as they arrived for a visit to the country
Images from throughout Charles’ life were beamed onto the iconic building in Sydney
Long to rain over us! Camilla holds an umbrella as the heavens opened as the couple landed
The tour is Charles’s first since his accession in September 2022 – and diagnosis with an unspecified cancer in February this year.
Admiralty House, where they will stay throughout their visit, is the official residence of the Governor General, the King’s senior representative in Australia, who has appointed Charles to the honorary ranks of Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy, Field Marshal of the Australian Army and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.
The house boasts stunning views of the city and the King and Queen couldn’t resist shaking off their jet lag to marvel at the scenery, with the picture taken under a portico on their return from a short stroll.
Camilla, 77, was wearing a royal blue Fiona Clare silk crepe dress adorned with the opulent Australian diamond wattle brooch, originally owned by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Charles, 75, looked bright-eyed wearing a nautical tie, and enjoyed what has been described as a ‘very cordial’ cup of tea with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese afterwards.
Charles is bravely suspending his cancer treatment to travel, with the agreement of his doctors.
He is journeying, as normal, accompanied by two doctors: one who specialises in general medicine – and the other in ‘acute’ medicine, such as trauma.
That is Professor Charles Deakin, an expert in ‘pre-hospital trauma and resuscitation’.
He accompanied the King to Kenya last year with Dr Michael Dixon, who is known for his interest in homeopathy, but this time stayed at home.
Prof Deakin previously travelled with Charles to Jordan in 2021 and the Solomon Islands in 2019.
Charles and Camilla enjoyed a day of rest at Admiralty House on Saturday, taking the occasional walk in the gardens when rain let up
There are no evening engagements but it is understood the King will still undertake about eight appointments on some days
Yesterday Charles and Camilla enjoyed a day of rest at Admiralty House, taking the occasional walk in the gardens when rain let up.
There are no evening engagements but the King will still undertake about eight appointments on some days.
Claims that rest periods have been factored in every 45 minutes were denied.
The couple will have a gentle first day of engagements today in Sydney and will ‘meet the people’ – the new description given to the traditional royal family ‘walkabout’ so as not to risk accusations of cultural appropriation.
They will attend St Thomas’s Anglican Church in north Sydney in the morning, where locals will be encouraged to gather on the lawn to see – and hopefully chat – to the royal visitors.
Afterwards the King will undertake several audiences before the tour transfers to the capital Canberra tomorrow.