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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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.
As King Charles prepares to undertake his first official tour of Australia and Samoa as monarch, The Independent takes a look back at the most memorable royal tours in recent history.
The King, 75, will arrive in Sydney tomorrow with Queen Camilla, where the couple will be honoured by a special light show displaying images of previous royal tours on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
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
King Charles arrives in Australia for first time as monarch
Sarah Ferguson becomes first British royal on TikTok with poignant cancer video
Sarah Ferguson has become the first member of the British royal family to join TikTok.
The Duchess of York, 65, made her debut on the platform with a poignant video reflecting on her breast cancer diagnosis.
Ferguson how she felt “total abject fear” when she received the medical news and recalled not being able to speak as she drove between hospitals.
“I just shut down, I went back into [a] little girl. It was easier not to ask for support and just to deal with it because that’s what I’m used to, that’s what I was taught,” she admitted.
Sarah Ferguson becomes first British royal on TikTok with poignant cancer video
Sarah Ferguson has become the first member of the British royal family to join TikTok. The Duchess of York, 65, made her debut on the platform with a poignant video reflecting on her breast cancer diagnosis. Ferguson how she felt "total abject fear" when she received the medical news and recalled not being able to speak as she drove between hospitals. "I just shut down, I went back into [a] little girl. It was easier not to ask for support and just to deal with it because that's what I'm used to, that's what I was taught," she admitted.
Behind-the-scenes look at Buckingham Palace £360m renovation
The royal family have shared a behind-the-scenes look at Buckingham Palace as a 780-strong team undertake a £360 million refurbishment of the historic building.
As part of the palace’s reservicing programme, work is taking place in the basement, replacing old electrical cabling with brand new cables under the floors and throughout the historic building.
In a new video, released by the royal family this month, workers can be seen pulling some of the 25,000 metres of cable through the basement.
The vast amount is equivalent to the weight of 12 elephants and runs the length of 250 football pitches.
Prince William all smiles on pub visit
Prince William was all smiles as he took the opportunity to visit The Warren House Inn in Devon.
A post on the official Kensington Palace Twitter/X account explained that according to local legend, the pub fire has been alight since it opened in 1845.
Prince William popped into The Warren House Inn earlier, on beautiful Dartmoor. Legend has it the pub fire has been alight since it was built in 1845! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3QGkWzwbub
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 17, 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrates royal tour
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival in Australia has been celebrated by the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Sharing a picture of himself with the royals today, he wrote in a statement: “A warm welcome back to Australia.
“Their Majesties have a deep regard for Australia, and this visit will be an opportunity to showcase the very best of our modern and dynamic nation.
“Over the next few days, King Charles and Queen Camilla will meet with Australians at events in Sydney and Canberra.”
A warm welcome back to Australia.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 18, 2024
Their Majesties have a deep regard for Australia, and this visit will be an opportunity to showcase the very best of our modern and dynamic nation.
Over the next few days, King Charles and Queen Camilla will meet with Australians at events in… pic.twitter.com/NXA0xMNqzd
Charles and Camilla meet with Australian prime minister
King Charles and Queen Camilla have met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon.
The royals arrived in Sydney earlier today to begin their historic six-day tour of the country – the couple’s first visit as king and queen.
Their arrival was celebrated with a spectacular light show on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
🇬🇧 🤝 🇦🇺
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 18, 2024
⁰It was a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) and Ms Haydon, upon arrival in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/KOKjqiEplm
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.
Thank you for the special welcome, Australia! 🇦🇺
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 18, 2024
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. pic.twitter.com/EjKiY9moJA
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.
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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