Royal news live: Indigenious protester shouting ‘king of thieves’ arrested in Sydney as Charles heads to Samoa
Charles will be offered the title of high chief in Samoa during his three-day visit starting today
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An Indigenous protestor was arrested for attempting to confront King Charles on the final day of his Australian tour, calling him “king of thieves”.
The monarch, 75, and his supporters were targeted by Wayne “Coco” Wharton, who encouraged the crowds gathered at the Sydney Opera House to leave with the King.
Mr Wharton said: “Go home with the King. He is a king of thieves and a king of liars. You have no receipt, you have no agreement on the occupation of this country. You are a nation of thieves. You’re guilty.”
Mr Wharton’s daughter, Nellie Pollard-Wharton, said he was attempting to issue an arrest notice for King Charles because of the royals’ historic treatment of Australia’s Aboriginal people.
This came after a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Sydney, where the King met with First Nations elders. One told him their goal was “sovereignty” in an apparent reference to a protest the previous day.
On Monday, the monarch was accused of “genocide” against Australia’s First Nations by Senator Lidia Thorpe who told him, “You are not my King.”
The royal couple will fly to Samoa from Australia for a three-day visit.
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King and Queen continue royal tour with Samoa visit
The King and Queen will receive a formal welcome when they arrive in Samoa for a state visit.
Charles and Camilla will be greeted by the country’s prime minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa when they step off their jet.
Nearby will be an honour guard formed by the Samoan Police Force, who will be stood to attention for their royal guests.
Samoa is hosting a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) which has the theme “One Resilient Common Future”.
The King is head of the Commonwealth and for the first time will preside over the gathering of presidents and prime ministers, and formally open the event which will be attended by Sir Keir Starmer.
Charles deputised for Queen Elizabeth II during the last Chogm staged by Rwanda in 2022, and in Samoa will be joined by foreign secretary David Lammy.
Lidia Thorpe: Who is the Indigenous Australian MP who accused King Charles of genocide?
Australian senator Lidia Thorpe has made headlines around the world after denouncing King Charles following his Parliament House reception speech.
Lidia Thorpe, 51, accused the British monarchy of genocide in a fiery speech before telling Charles “you’re not my King” as he returned to his seat from a lectern in Canberra.
Ms Thorpe later told the BBC that she wanted to send “a clear message” to Charles. “To be sovereign you have to be of the land,” she said. “He is not of this land.”
Find out more about her background and activism here:
Lidia Thorpe: Who is the Indigenous Australian MP who shouted at King Charles?
‘Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people’, she shouted
King Charles and Queen Camilla continue royal tradition at Government House
King Charles and Queen Camilla continued a longstanding royal tradition when they visited Government House on their Australian tour.
They took the opportunity to plant Eucalyptus trees in the garden, as has been done to mark every royal visit since 1985.
🌳 To mark every Royal Visit to Government House since 1985, members of the Royal Family are invited to plant a tree within the grounds.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 21, 2024
Their Majesties today planted Eucalyptus trees in the garden. pic.twitter.com/Xjo2Fux8zJ
King Charles praised for open discussion of cancer diagnosis
King Charles was praised for his open discussion of his cancer diagnosis while visiting the Melanoma Institute Australia in Sydney on his royal tour.
The monarch, 75, announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease earlier this year following a routine procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
He visited the institute to learn about its revolutionary approaches to treating melanoma, one of the most common types of cancer in Australia.
Prof Scoyler, a leading pathologist, said: “It’s courageous of the King to go public with his cancer journey.
“Everyone’s different about how they feel about a cancer diagnosis. Some people are happy to go public with it, but it’s not the same for all patients, and I think we should respect that.
“But for us, what we’ve been talking with the King about today is melanoma and the incredible advances that we’ve made here.”
A history of royal tours Down Under: From a young Queen Elizabeth II to Harry and Meghan’s baby joy
The royal family has been regularly touring and visiting Australia since the late 19th century, with the country playing host to several key moments in their history.
In the wake of King Charles‘s first official tour of Australia as monarch, The Independent takes a look back at the most memorable royal tours in recent history.
From a young Queen Elizabeth to Harry and Meghan’s baby joy: Royal tours Down Under
King Charles’s first visit to Australia as monarch will begin on Friday
Queen Camilla shines a light on Australians facing food insecurity
Queen Camilla took the opportunity on the royal tour to put the eyes of the world on a community project helping Australians experiencing food insecurity.
As a patron of UK Harvest, she visited its Australian counterpart, Oz Harvest, where efforts are being made to help those facing hunger and reduce food waste.
Refettorio @OzHarvest Sydney, an Australian-first, social impact collaboration between OzHarvest and Food for Soul, is a community hub created to meet the needs of those experiencing food insecurity whilst also preventing food waste.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 22, 2024
🥫 As Patron of @UKHarvest , Her Majesty… pic.twitter.com/uCAcmRxzzT
King Charles learns about new bushfire prevention technology
King Charles learned about new technology being developed to tackle bushfires on the second day of his Australian tour.
A post on the official royal family Twitter/X account read: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, is undertaking research, developing models and testing equipment, to study the spread of bushfires under a range of weather conditions.
“The King watched demonstrations and spoke to firefighters about their experience using newly developed equipment, thanks to CSIRO’s studies.”
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science agency, is undertaking research, developing models and testing equipment, to study the spread of bushfires under a range of weather conditions.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 21, 2024
🚒 The King watched demonstrations and… pic.twitter.com/dS5xhB5rzi
Queen Camilla meets with young Australian writers
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s packed schedule of engagements on their royal tour of Australia also saw the queen consort recognise the achievements of young, Australian writers.
A post on the official royal family Twitter/X account said: “At Green Square Library, Her Majesty spent time with talented young Australians taking part in workshops with authors, before meeting past winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (@RoyalCWSociety).”
Celebrating the intellect and creativity of young Aussies through outstanding writing!
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 22, 2024
At Green Square Library, Her Majesty spent time with talented young Australians taking part in workshops with authors, before meeting past winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition… pic.twitter.com/TNCjyULAK0
Royal fans praise Australia tour - ‘It’s a historic occasion’
Royal fans who had the opportunity to meet and glimpse King Charles and Queen Camilla on the second day of their Australian tour have praised the “historic occasion”.
The couple took the opportunity to greet their many well-wishers outside Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, where the king gave a poignant speech about his experience of Australia and vision for its future.
Kathy Carter and her family, who made “We love you” signs” said: “We would have sat here for another two hours. It’s the pomp and ceremony ... but on the other hand, they’re so realistic and down to earth.”
Dressed in a Union Jack-covered jacket, royal fan Serena added: “It’s a historic occasion.”
Charles and Camilla plant tree at Australian National Botanic Gardens
The second day of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s ongoing tour also saw the couple visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra.
The King not only inspected the plants on display but took the opportunity to plant a tree of his own, a water gum, which he requested to see again once it is a little bigger.
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