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Royal news live: King Charles told ‘give us our land back’ by senator after speech in Australian parliament

The visit is King Charles’s first tour of Australia as king

Athena Stavrou,Alex Croft
Monday 21 October 2024 08:36
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King Charles told ‘give us our land back’ by Australian senator

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King Charles was confronted by an Indigenous senator who told him "you are not my king" and demanded a treaty between Australia's First Nations and its government on Monday.

Senator Lidia Thorpe waited until the end of a landmark speech Charles gave at Australia's Parliament House to verbally attack him and say "genocide" had been committed against the Commonwealth country's indigenous people.

Charles and Camilla have faced low-key protests during their tour of Australia from supporters of First Nations resistance to colonisation, who have been displaying a banner with the word "decolonise" at a number of events.

As Ms Thorpe was ushered from the hall she shouted: "You are not our King you are not Sovereign... you have committed genocide against our people.

"Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us... Our babies, Our people. You destroyed our land."

She continued: "Give us a treaty - we want a treaty with this country... This is not your land, this is not your land, you are not my King you are not our King."

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Charles and Camilla thank Australia for their ‘special welcome'

King Charles and Queen Camilla have thanked Australia for their “special welcome” as they kick off their six-day tour of the country.

A post on the official royal family Twitter/X account read: “Thank you for the special welcome, Australia!

“The King and Queen have touched down in Sydney to begin their visit to Australia.

“The visit marks His Majesty’s first visit to a Realm as Sovereign.”

This was accompanied by a picture of the Sydney Opera House, which was lit up with images from previous royal tours for the occasion.

Emma Guinness18 October 2024 15:00
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Australian Republic Movement likens royal tour to ‘show that comes to town'

The Australian Republic Movement has condemned the royal tour and likened the king and queen’s presence to that of a visiting musician or artist.

Co-chair Esther Anatolitis said the six-day visit should reinforce the need for the country’s British head of state to be replaced with an Australian.

Royal tours, she said, were “something of a show that comes to town.”

“Unfortunately, it is a reminder that Australia’s head of state isn’t full-time, isn’t Australian. It’s a part-time person based overseas who’s the head of state of numerous places,” Anatolitis told the AP.

Charles and Camilla will spend six days touring Australia before travelling to Samoa.
Charles and Camilla will spend six days touring Australia before travelling to Samoa. (AFP via Getty Images)
Emma Guinness18 October 2024 14:05
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Queen Camilla grants 12-year-old boy’s wish on arrival in Australia

The royal tour got off to a triumphant start for Queen Camilla who granted a 12-year-old boy’s wish to meet the royals on arrival in Australia.

Ky, who has severe aplastic anaemia, presented the queen consort with a bouquet after she and King Charles stepped off their plane.

Ky was joined by his sister Charlotte for the meeting, who saved his life with a bone marrow donation.

“I just like their personality as well and what they do with charities is really nice – probably Charles would be my favourite,” he said.

His wish to meet the royals was granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which exists in both the UK and Australia.

Ky was joined by his older sister Charlotte, who saved his life.
Ky was joined by his older sister Charlotte, who saved his life. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Queen Camilla was gifted a bouquet from Ky.
Queen Camilla was gifted a bouquet from Ky. (Getty Images)
Emma Guinness18 October 2024 13:00
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Sydney celebrates King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival in Australia has been marked with a spectacular light show on the Sydney Opera House.

It was poignantly lit up for four minutes with pictures from previous royal tours.

The couple are set to spend six days in the country on their first visit as king and queen.

The Oprah House was lit up with visits from previous royal tours.
The Oprah House was lit up with visits from previous royal tours. (Getty Images)
The visit is King Charles’s 17th time in Australia.
The visit is King Charles’s 17th time in Australia. (Getty Images)
Emma Guinness18 October 2024 11:56
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Australia’s ‘biggest royal fan’ can’t wait for King Charles’s visit

A woman who has been dubbed Australia’s “biggest royal fan” has said that she cannot wait for King Charles’s historic visit.

Jan Hugo, the proud owner of the country’s largest collection of royal memorabilia, said that she loves “everything” about the royal family.

“I think we might try and coordinate a couple of things and see where we might be able to see him,” Ms Hugo told the TODAY programme. “But you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time.”

Jan Hugo among her royal memorabilia collection in Australia.
Jan Hugo among her royal memorabilia collection in Australia. ( David Hugo/PA)
Emma Guinness18 October 2024 11:00
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King Charles and Queen Camilla step down on Australian soil

King Charles and Queen Camilla have officially arrived in Australia for their historic tour – the monarch’s first as king.

The couple landed in Sydney on a Royal Australian Air Force plane, where they were greeted by a warm welcome as they stepped off their plane and shook the hands of officials.

The queen consort was also gifted a bouquet of flowers by a young boy.

The royals will spend six days in Australia before travelling to Samoa.
The royals will spend six days in Australia before travelling to Samoa. (REUTERS)
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Australia.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Australia. (Getty Images)
The is Charles’s first time in Australia as king.
The is Charles’s first time in Australia as king. (AFP via Getty Images)
Emma Guinness18 October 2024 10:44
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Watch live: King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia for first visit since coronation

Watch live as King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia on Friday, 18 October, for their first official visit since the coronation.

His Majesty is embarking on his 16th official visit and 17th overall to the country, which is his first trip there as monarch and Queen Camilla’s first in her role as consort.

The royal couple last travelled around the globe to the Commonwealth realm in 2018.

Charles and Camilla will embark on a six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney as part of a historic tour of the South Pacific.

They will later travel to Samoa for a three-day state visit and speak with world leaders in a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which Charles will formally open.

Live: King and Queen arrive in Australia for first visit since coronation

Watch live as King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia on Friday, 18 October, for their first official visit since the coronation.

Emma Guinness18 October 2024 10:30
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Prince William praises the Duchy College after Cornwall visit

Prince William has praised the work of the Duchy College after a visit to Cornwall, where the heir to the throne met its students on campus.

A statement on the official Kensington Palace Twitter/X account read: “The @DuchyCollege does a brilliant job providing opportunities for young people in rural areas to foster a successful career.

“A great morning in Cornwall spent chatting about the future of farming, getting hands-on with CSI-focused course tasks and meeting students on campus.”

The post was accompanied by footage of William meeting with students to learn more about their studies and ambitions. The college has two campuses in Rosewarne and Stoke Climsland, Cornwall.

Emma Guinness18 October 2024 10:00

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