MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — King Charles III ends the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch in 13 years Tuesday with anti-monarchists hoping his journey is a step toward an Australian citizen becoming head of state.Controversy interrupted the visit on Monday when Indigenous independent senator Lidia Thorpe yelled at Charles during a reception that he was not her king and Australia was not his land.Esther Anatolitis, co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement, that campaigns for an Australian citizen to replace the British monarch as Australia’s head of state, said while thousands turned out to see the king and Queen Camilla at their public engagements, the numbers were larger when his mother Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia 70 years ago.An estimated 75% of Australia’s population saw the queen in person during the first visit by a reigning British monarch in 1954.“It’s understandable that Australians would be welcoming the king and queen, we also welcome them,” Anatolitis said. “But…

King Charles III is ending the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch in 13 years with anti-monarchists hoping his journey is a step toward an Australian citizen becoming head of state.

The King has spoken of his great joy at visiting Australia as its Monarch. Charles III is the first reigning King to tour the country. In his first official speech during his historic visit, His...