King Charles Begins Australian Tour With Church Service In Sydney.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have begun their six-day tour of Australia by attending a Sunday service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in northern Sydney. This marks the King’s first visit to Australia since becoming head of state in September 2022, and it is his most significant trip since starting cancer treatment earlier this year.
The royal couple was welcomed by a congregation led by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel. Following the service, they greeted a crowd of well-wishers, some of whom had queued since the early hours to catch a glimpse of the royals. The King and Queen received flowers and exchanged pleasantries with attendees, many taking the opportunity to snap photos of the pair.
One local, Roslyn Durie, who previously saw Queen Elizabeth II during her 1980 visit, expressed her excitement after shaking hands with King Charles, saying it was “so emotional”. Sandra Hall, another attendee, shared her brief exchange with the King, who remarked that it was “always sunny in Sydney” when she commented on the beautiful weather.
The visit is part of a wider tour, which will see the King and Queen engage with political and community leaders, celebrating the nation’s rich culture and heritage. During the day, King Charles presented an hourglass to mark the 200th anniversary of the New South Wales upper house and spoke of his “great joy” at visiting Australia as Sovereign.
However, the day was not without controversy, as a small group of protesters gathered outside the church, expressing opposition to the monarchy. Among them was Wayne Wharton, an Indigenous protester, who denounced the monarchy’s role in colonialism and called for decolonisation.
The tour continues with King Charles expected to support environmental projects and attend a naval review in Sydney Harbour. He will also meet pioneering Australian scientists researching melanoma, one of the country’s most prevalent cancers. A reception in the capital, Canberra, is planned for Monday, although the state premiers have confirmed they will not be attending.
The King’s treatment for cancer has been temporarily suspended during the tour, which will also include a visit to Samoa for a Commonwealth leaders’ summit.
