From poignant remembrance events to ancient welcome ceremonies, the King and Queen’s tour of Australia and Samoa had it all. Crowds flocked to the famous Sydney Opera House to see the monarch making his first visit to Australia as King, with his wife Camilla. Crowds gather at Sydney Opera House (Chris Jackson/PA) In the capital Canberra the mood was very different when the couple paid their respects at the Australian War Memorial during a poignant wreath-laying ceremony.
There were moments when the formalities were forgotten, including Charles being hugged by one well-wisher during his visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney. Charles is introduced to an alpaca in Canberra (Mark Baker/AP) Royal tours sometimes have controversial moments and when Charles was welcomed by parliamentarians in Canberra, senator Lidia Thorpe accused him of “genocide” against the First Nations. In Samoa the King showed off his own take on local fashion during welcoming ceremonies.
The itinerary was tailored to give the King, who has been receiving treatment for cancer for much of the year, periods of rest. A rest day was allocated after the couple first arrived in Australia and the King looked engaged, relaxed and in good spirits throughout the overseas visit..