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.
King Charles and Queen Camilla to begin tour of Australia with Sunday church service
Watch: King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia for first visit since coronation
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted by children outside Sydney church
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
Australian Republic Movement likens royal tour to ‘show that comes to town'
The Australian Republic Movement has likened the king and queen’s presence to that of a visiting musician or artist, while condemning the royal tour as “something of a show that comes to town”.
Esther Anatolitis, the movement’s co-chair, said the six-day visit showed the country’s need for an Australian head of state rather than a British monarch.
“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.
Footage revealed of King Charles’ visit to Australia in 1966
The Royal Family has posted footage of King Charles visiting Australia as a young man.
In a post on X, they said: “In 1966, when he was seventeen, The King spent two terms at Timbertop in the mountains of south-eastern Australia.
“The co-educational campus of Geelong Grammar School is located near Mansfield in Victoria, and combines normal schooling with outdoor activities, such as hiking, trail running, cross-country skiing and camping, to foster independence and initiative.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla to begin tour of Australia with Sunday church service
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s six-day tour of Australia will begin with a church service on Sunday, as part of their first visit to the Commonwealth nation since being crowned.
Sydney Opera House was lit up with a projection of images of the royal couple as they touched down on Friday evening for their tour intended to celebrate Australia’s people, culture and heritage.
With no official events scheduled for Saturday, the couple were seen by local media walking around Admiralty House, the historic building on the foreshore of Sydney harbour which serves as the official residence of Australia’s governor-general.
They will join members of St Thomas’ Anglican Church in north Sydney for a service officiated by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel.
Read more in this report:
King and Queen to begin tour of Australia with Sunday church service
The visit to Commonwealth nation marks first tour by a reigning monarch in more than a decade
In pictures: Australia welcomes the King and Queen
Four-year-old girl offers Princess Anne lesson in curtseying
A four-year-girl offered to show the Princess Royal how to curtsy, her father has revealed.
Sir Philip Bobbitt, an American professor of law who flew from Texas who on Friday received an honorary knighthood at Buckingham Palace for “services to UK/USA relations and public life”, revealed the story after the ceremony.
The 76-year-old professor said he and Anne had recalled meeting each other in New York in 2023. One of Sir Philip’s twin daughters offered to teach the Princess Royal how to curtsy.
“When the Princess Royal and I had met in New York, one of my then four-year-old twins had curtsied,” Sir Philip recalled after receiving his knighthood.
“And the Princess Royal had complimented her on her curtsy. And my child said: ‘You see, it’s all in the back. You have to keep your back straight’.
“She said, ‘I could show you’. She [Anne] and I just talked about that.”
Sir Philip said he was “extremely pleased” to be made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Report: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly buy vacation home in Portugal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly purchased a vacation home in Portugal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to add another house in addition to their California property, according to multiple outlets. This would be their first home in Europe since 2023.
The Independent has reached out to representatives for the Sussexes for comment.
There is also the opportunity to acquire a Golden Visa, which is a citizenship program that allows people to earn legal rights in a country through investing in their economy. To qualify for a golden visa, applicants typically need to meet minimum investment requirements in real estate, government bonds, or other approved assets.
Read the full report:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly buy vacation home in Portugal
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently reside in California
Video: King Charles arrives in Australia for first time as monarch
King Charles given military honours hours after touching down in Australia
King Charles has been appointed Australia’s admiral of the navy, field marshal of the army and marshal of the air force, the defence chief said on Sunday.
He was bestowed the titles within hours of arriving for his first Australia trip as King and his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer.
“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,” said chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston in a statement.
Charles and Camilla will join a navy fleet review on Sydney Harbour next week. The vessels in Australia’s navy carry the title of His Majesty’s Australian Ship.
Princess Anne attends performance by world’s oldest riding academy
The Princess Royal attended a performance in London by the world’s oldest riding academy.
Eight riders and up to 26 horses from the Spanish Riding School carried out perfectly synchronised routines set to classical Viennese music on Friday evening.
The Vienna-based academy has been practising classical horsemanship for more than 450 years, and performed tonight to a horse-enthusiast and former Olympic rider in Princess Anne.
She joined model Lady Victoria Hervey, influencer Chuggs Wallis and thousands of fans to view the spectacle at the OVO Arena Wembley.
Radio and TV presenter Nicki Chapman, who hosted the show, said: “Hosting the opening night of the prestigious Spanish Riding School tour, with The Princess Royal in attendance, was an absolute honour.
“It’s been eight years since the Lipizzaner horses and their incredibly talented riders last visited the UK, and sharing the magic with both the Princess Royal and the British public made the evening all the more unforgettable.”
Prince William reveals ‘crucial motto of being a parent’ to George, Charlotte and Louis
The Prince of Wales has shared the simple parenting motto he and the Princess of Wales use to keep their young children happy at an engagement.
William, 42, made the revelation while attending a game hosted by the NFL Foundation UK in London on Tuesday, where he was gifted a football for Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
Expressing his appreciation for the gift at the Kennington Park hockey pitch, he said: “Oh, that’s very kind. Never go home empty handed! That’s a crucial motto of being a parent.
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