Royal news live: King Charles given military honours on first day of landmark Australia visit
The visit is King Charles’s first tour of Australia as king
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
King Charles has been appointed to multiple honorary ranks in Australia’s armed forces within hours of arriving for his first visit as King.
He has been appointed as Australia’s admiral of the navy, field marshal of the army and marshal of the air force, the defence chief said on Sunday.
The 75-year-old arrived in Sydney on Friday evening in his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer.
With no official events scheduled for Saturday, Charles and Queen Camilla were seen by local media walking around the historic harbour foreshore residence Admiralty House, Reuters reported.
In a statement, chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston said: "The Sovereign serves as an example of service, and His Majesty’s appointments are symbolic of the Royal Family’s longstanding dedication and relationship with the nation.”
Camilla and Charles will participate in a navy fleet review on Sydney Harbour next week. Australia’s navy has been known as the Royal Australian Navy since 1911, with its vessels carrying the title of His Majesty’s Australian Ship.
It is the first trip to Australia by a reigning monarch in more than a decade.
Watch: King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia for first visit since coronation
Royal tours of Australia: Security scares, a kiss and the baby republican slayer
King Charles III lands in Australia's republic debate in the first visit by a monarch in 13 years
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly buy vacation home in Portugal
Sarah Ferguson becomes first British royal on TikTok with poignant cancer video
Watch back our event: What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like?
These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s premium event on the future of the royal family.
Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler.
Watch the full event here. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like? These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family. Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
Expert reveals touching possibility for Kate’s Christmas card
A royal expert has speculated about the contents of the Princess of Wales’s Christmas card for 2024.
Biographer Ingrid Seward said that the card will almost certainly feature Kate, 42, with her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, six.
She told the Mirror: “[It will] definitely be with family as right across the board that is what has been traditionally sent.
“I imagine that it will be cuddly picture of her with her arms around her children.”
King Charles celebrates cultural relations between the UK and Italy
King Charles has attended a concert celebrating the cultural relationship between the UK and Italy.
The monarch, who is patron of the London Symphony Orchestra, took in the hour-long performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ overture, Paganini’s First movement from Violin Concerto No 1, and Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ for String Orchestra.
The engagement comes just days before the monarch is due to travel overseas for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa.
Last night, His Majesty attended a @Londonsymphony concert to celebrate cultural relations between the cities of London and Genoa. 🇮🇹
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 16, 2024
👇 Click below to find out more.
Pictured: William speaks at Centrepoint awards
Prince of Wales calls for ‘systemic change’ to end homelessness
The Prince of Wales has called for a movement that creates “systemic change” to end homelessness in the UK.
William made the comments on Wednesday evening as Centrepoint, the homeless charity he supports as a patron.
Speaking at the Kensington Palace event, which was hosted by broadcaster Claudia Winkleman, William said: “I am inspired by the ambition and commitment of all the award winners and nominees this evening. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.
“What inspires me the most about the young people here this evening, is that they have not only overcome homelessness to achieve their personal ambitions, but they are also all contributing to the communities in which they live… be that through teaching, fundraising or volunteering.
“While homelessness is of course a complex societal issue, I passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended.”
William said he believed this required “a movement that creates systemic change” which “focuses on prevent rather than management” and “ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently”.
Prince William arrives at British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards
William has arrived at the British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards.
The Prince of Wales met with the young finalists and was laughing and joking with them as he made his way around the groups.
An orchestra played Adele’s Skyfall in the background.
Prince William’s says his agenda is to ‘desperately try to help’ homeless people
Prince William says his only agenda is to “desperately try to help” tackle homelessness.
The heir to the throne, 42, made the revelation in his upcoming ITV documentary, which follows the first year of his anti-homelessness project, Homewards.
The interviewer asked: “There will be some people who might question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?”
William replied: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all.
“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.
“And I see that as part of my role, is that, why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?”
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness will air on 30 October at 9 pm ITV and ITVX and STV and STV Player.
Duchess of York celebrates ‘recovery and growth'
The Duchess of York took a moment to celebrate her “recovery and growth” as she marked her 65th birthday yesterday.
Sarah, who joined the royal family upon her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday wishes!
“I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be here every day, to smell the flowers, to read and write, and to be able to see my daughters and my grandchildren.
“It has been an extraordinary, full year - a year of recovery and of growth - and I just feel so lucky.
“Thank you again to all of you who made it so and who took the time to send me birthday wishes.”
King Charles’s Australia visit to be met with UK anti-monarchy protests
King Charles is set to be met with anti-monarchy protests when he arrives in Australia with Queen Camilla on Friday.
Alongside protests from people within Australia, Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, said he was travelling down under “to challenge the royal PR machine”.
Mr Smith said: “I’m in Australia to talk about why the UK should ditch the monarchy and to challenge the royal PR machine.
“I’m not here to tell Australia to become a republic, but to talk to Australians and the British press about the growing republican movement in the UK and the huge failings of the British monarchy.
“The message is simple: Charles does not speak for us, he does not represent us, he should go home.”
Royal fans can now dine at King Charles’s table
Visitors to Dumfries House in Scotland can now dine in the very same spot as King Charles, where they will be able to experience an 18th-century feast in his favourite room.
Charles takes most of his evening meals in the Pink Dining Room while staying at the Scottish stately home in Ayrshire.
Now his charity, The King’s Foundation, is offering a new private dining experience, allowing members of the public the opportunity to enjoy a three-course meal, authentic to the 1700s and served by a traditional butler, in the royal chamber.
Guests will eat at the King’s table – but not in the presence of the monarch – beneath the 35kg Murano glass floral chandelier, which was painstakingly reassembled after being found in the basement in more than 100 pieces nearly 20 years ago.
Menus will be based on 18th-century dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments