King Charles and Queen Camilla start visit to Australia with church and cheers

The first official engagement of King Charles III’s historic visit to Australia saw the Monarch attend a church service.

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As he became the first reigning King to tour Australia, His Majesty began his formal agenda at St. Thomas’ Church in Sydney for Sunday morning service.

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There was a warm welcome for King Charles and Queen Camilla from the church’s Sunday school pupils who presented the first flowers of the day to the royal couple.

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The King and Queen appeared to share a joke as they prepared to sign the front sheet of an historic Book of Common Prayer at the church although by all accounts, the pens that Charles III sometimes struggles with were on perfect behaviour for his first signature in Australia as Monarch.

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The King and Queen were greeted by a large crowd at the church and, following the service, they did a walkabout to meet as many as possible.

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There were cheers for King Charles and Queen Camilla from the several thousand who had gathered to see them. There was also a small anti monarchy demonstration with protestors shouting ”not our King”.

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After the church service, King Charles attended a reception to mark the bicentenary of the Legislative Council of the New South Wales Parliament.

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During his first speech of the tour, The King said it was a ”great joy…to come to Australia for the first time as Sovereign and to renew a love of this country and its people which I have cherished for so long.”

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The King presented the parliament with an hourglass to mark his visit.

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The King’s day continued at Admiralty House in Sydney where he met Sam Mostyn, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, and then Margaret Beazley who is the Governor of New South Wales.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Australia on October 18th when they were welcomed to Sydney by a show which saw their images projected on to the famous Opera House facade. Their Majesties later released a photo of them in front of the display with a message of thanks for such a warm reception.