King Charles, 75, was welcomed by elders at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence including those from the Sydney region and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
He was met by an elder Allan Murray from the Metropolitan local Aboriginal land council who referred to Lidia Thorpe‘s outburst at Parliament House on Monday.
‘Welcome to country,’ he said.
‘We’ve got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday in Canberra, but the story is unwavering and we’ve got a long way to achieve what we want to achieve and that’s our own sovereignty. But welcome to Gadigal land.’
Charles nodded as Allan spoke.
Allan welcomed him to the centre and said: ‘We are proud sovereign people’.
Another pulled out a lighter to start the smoking ceremony.
The King said: ‘I was out in the bush in Victoria in 1966 – trying to get the fire going was a problem because we didn’t have one of those.’
King Charles , 75, was welcomed by elders at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence including those from the Sydney region and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
Meanwhile the Queen was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon, as she helped serve professional chef-standard food to vulnerable customers
He wafted the smoke which signifies a welcome to Indigenous land.
The King was met by Jody Broun, the CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and Leon Donovan, Regional Manager, NSW and ACT National Indigenous Australians Agency.
King Charles also met Aunty-in-Residence NCIE and local Aboriginal Elder, ‘Aunty’ Beryl Van Opploo who demonstrated traditional food preparation techniques.
Speaking about the protest in Parliament, Beryl said: ‘Everybody has choices but I come from a different era.
‘I grew up with it and I’ve lived it. We did used to protest and did all when I was younger but not in a mean way.
‘People have choices and I’ve been brought up by my elders with respect.’
In the sports hall, The King was impressed with a dance performance from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers.
Greeting the dancers afterwards, he said tried jumping the air himself and said: ‘That looked like a good exercise. I don’t think I can still do it at my age.’
He also spoke to Gamay Rangers and members of the Inner City Empowered Communities Group, which provides services to Aboriginal communities in Sydney.
And spoke privately with a number of elders.
The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) is a not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2006 to provide programs, services and opportunities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island populations
Speaking afterwards Uncle Murray said: ‘We always long for a return of our sovereignty. We are a sovereign people, we have never signed a formal agreement or treaty.
‘The Union Jack was put on our land without our consent.
‘We’ve been ignored. We can’t rest on our laurels.’
Asked whether he blames the King, he said: ‘It was his family that goes back to 1770. We’ve sent to the Kings and Queens asking to be recognised but have been ignored since 1770.
The year 1770 was when Captain James Cook explored the east coast of Australia, with the first British colony established in 1788.
King Charles watched a performance from members of the Indigenous community during his visit to the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence
‘I think he listened to what I said.
‘The King’s visit to Australia is a year after the failed referendum (where public voted down a bill on Aboriginal rights).
‘There’s ill feeling in the community and our people are being violated, discriminated and displaced.’
Asked about Lidia Thorpe’s protest, he said: ‘If we can be polite we get the message out.’
Indigenous elder Joyce Wymarra, 81, joined a private chat with the King afterwards.
She said the issue of sovereignty was not raised with the King.
But said elders spoke about service in the Armed Forces and climate change.
She said: ‘I’m a broad minded person. I liked to meet the King so I could tell him about the issues affecting us like rising water in the Torres Strait’.
She said she had not seen Lidia Thorpe’s protest because she had been travelling for two days to meet the King.
Uncle Harry Allie, 81, who brandished five medals after serving in the Australian Air Force, spoke privately with the King.
A traditional smoking ceremony was conducted when King Charles arrived at the centre on Tuesday
He said afterwards: ‘It was a real honour to meet the King and speak to him. I’ve seen him on the news acknowledging many people and shaking hands.
Asked about Lidia and indigenous rights, he said: ‘There’s a time and place. I think the King was welcome here and for us to be up close and personal, was a great honour’.
Uncle Noel Timbery, 85, also met the King in private, and told him he saw Queen Elizabeth II on her 1954 tour of Australia.
He said afterwards: ‘It was a very good meeting and we didn’t speak about any issues.
‘I don’t know her (Lidia Thorpe) and I don’t know the young protesters outside who made all the noise on the road.
‘It’s better to have a proper conversation about it.’
Meanwhile, the Queen was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon, as she helped serve professional chef-standard food to vulnerable customers.
The Queen sprinkled herbs and edible flowers on lunch at Refettorio OzHarvest in Sydney, which rescues food that would otherwise be thrown away by restaurants and cafes to distribute to those in need.
The Queen called it a ‘wonderful idea’ and ‘incredible’, as she entered the kitchen to take instructions from the chefs.
Founder Ronni Khan told her that the cafe was designed to ‘not just feed the belly but to feed the soul’.
After helping to make the lunch, asking chefs about the ingredients, she sat at a long table to join clients for a meal.
Locals can be referred to the cafe, come with the assistance of charities, or book, eat a three-course meal at the cafe for free. It is funded by donations and a Thursday night $80 meal, which helps pay for meals for the rest of the week.
The Queen also met staff and volunteers, exclaiming ‘one man!’ as she met the lone male who joked he was the ‘best barista’.
‘What brought you here?’ she asked team members, wondering whether it was in part ‘all that delicious food!’
‘Can you tell me what we’re eating?’ she asked one fellow diner, gesturing that she did not have her spectacles on.
It was crispy potato hash with fermented chilli, preserved peperonata, Persian feta, green zhoug, heirloom tomato and house pickes, made from food that would otherwise have been thrown away.
Before the group began eating, Ms Khan offered the Queen a brooch in the shape of a teaspoon, with a crown on it.
She explained the concept: that in the case of bush fire there are three ways to react: run away, complain, or find water.
Queen Camilla is presented with a teaspoon after visiting OzHarvest
Ideally, she said, you would find a bucket, if not a jug, and failing that a teaspoon, and if everybody had a teaspoon of water it would make a difference.
‘I’m very honoured to join you,’ said the Queen, accepting her brooch. ‘It’s a very important order to be a part of.’
She went on to ask her lunch companions how often they came for lunch, saying ‘I bet you look forward to it’ and calling it a ‘lovely experience’.
The food is sourced and distributed with help from leading food rescue organisations OzHarvest, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Food for Soul.
Outside, hundreds of locals had gathered to see the royal visitor and the Queen undertook an impromptu walkabout.
Among those she met was nine-year-old parrot Caeser, and persevered in saying ‘hello Caeser’ to him while he remained mute.
‘He’s gone camera shy,’ the Queen joked, before a cheer went up from the crowd as the parrot finally said ‘hello’ back.