Royal news live: King Charles jokes about ‘sands of time’ as he gifts hourglass to local Australian parliament
The visit is King Charles’s first tour of Australia as king
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King Charles joked about the “sands of time” as he presented an hourglass to a local Australian parliament which was celebrating its 200th anniversary.
The King was also present at the Legislative Council of New South Wales’ 150th anniversary in 1974.
He gifted the timepiece - which sits on a cedar base made from the trees from the grounds of his Highgrove home - and suggested it could be used as a “speech timer” for the parliament.
“Democratic systems must evolve, of course, to remain fit for purpose, but they are, nevertheless, essentially sound systems, as I said in this building 50 years ago,” he told the council.
“With the sands of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is 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.”
Meanwhile, Charles was presented with multiple honorary ranks in Australia’s armed forces within hours of arriving for his first visit down under as King.
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King in Australia to ‘renew’ his love for the country
“What a great joy it is 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,” King Charles told the New South Wales parliament.
The royal family posted more images of his visit in a post on X.
In pictures: King meets public and politicians outside New South Wales parliament
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Charles and Camilla join churchgoers
Charles and Camilla have joined churchgoers at St Thomas’ Anglican Church, which the rector’s wife described as a “great honour”.
The King and Queen met young members of the congregation at the door of the church, where Charles was presented with a rugby ball, cricket ball and stuffed koala, for his grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The rector’s wife said: “It’s a great honour for us as it’s the first opportunity for the public to see the King and Queen.”
Republican protestors were heard shouting “not my King” as the couple arrived at the church. Around a dozen people, who supported the First Nations resistance to colonisation movement, held up a banner with the word “decolonise”.
Charles also saw his friend and former polo teacher Sinclair Hill, considered Australia’s greatest ever player, who was joined by his wife Wendy Hill.
Ms Hill said afterwards: “He is a lovely man and the fact that he has not been well and still came… The effort he puts in to talk to all these people. I thought he looked terrific.”
King presents gift to local parliament celebrating 200th anniversary
King Charles presented an hourglass to the upper house of an Australian local parliament which was celebrating its 200th anniversary.
The Legislative Council of New South Wales (NSW) was presented with the timepiece - which Charles says could be used as a “speech timer” - on the first day of the King and Queen’s Australian tour.
Having visited the NSW parliament in 1974 to celebrate its 150th anniversary, the King returned with a gift handmade by the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London, with a cedar base using wood from the King’s Highgrove home.
“Democratic systems must evolve, of course, to remain fit for purpose, but they are, nevertheless, essentially sound systems, as I said in this building 50 years ago,” he told the house.
“When underpinned by wisdom and good faith, democracy has, I believe, an extraordinary capacity for innovation, compromise and adaptability, as well as stability.
“With the sands of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is 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.”
Pictured: King and Queen in good spirits after arrival
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted by children outside Sydney church
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by children Sunday outside a Sydney church in their first public appearance of their Australian visit.
His Majesty’s arrival Friday marked the first reigning British monarch visit to Australia since his late mother Queen Elizabeth II made her 16th journey to the distant nation in 2011.
The royals’ first public engagement was at a service at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney. As Charles and Camilla made their way to the front of church, Sunday school children waving Australian flags cheered and shook hands with the couple.
Inside, dozens of phones pointed in their direction, while excited whispers echoed through the room.
After the service, the king and queen were greeted outside by hundreds of cheering people hoping to catch a glimpse or snap a photo.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla greeted by children outside Sydney church
His arrival marks the first reigning British monarch visit to Australia since Queen Elizabeth II made her 16th journey to the nation in 2011
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.
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