All the highlights of King Charles and Queen Camilla's day of engagements in Sydney
By 9Honey|
From taking a spin on the BBQ to meeting parrots and sheepdogs, ?King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed a busy final day of their royal tour in Sydney.
The sun was shining in the Harbour City as the royals visited a number of suburbs and landmarks, culminating with an appearance at the iconic Sydney Opera House where they were farewelled by a huge crowd จC including a familiar face, England's own Joanna Lumley.
And with that, King Charles' first tour of Australia as monarch came to an end.?
READ MORE: Charles recalls 'unmentionable' detail of his time at Aussie school?
Keep reading to see how the day's events unfolded จC all times in AEDT.?
5.30pm: The grand finale
?The final moment of the King and Queen's tour has arrived: the Australian Navy fleet review.
READ MORE: 'The brutal reality' of King Charles' Australian visit?
After departing the Opera House via yacht, they have been joined by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, with members of the public assembling to catch a final glimpse of the royals on Sydney Harbour during the review.
The King and Queen are watching the fleet review from the harbour on a ship called the Admiral Hudson.
Five Australian navy ships have been anchored in Sydney Harbour for the spectacle.
There is also a RAAF flyover to mark the end of the royal visit in Australia.
5.25pm: A photo for the pool room
?When in Sydney, one simply must get a photo with the Harbour Bridge จC even when one is a royal.
4.37pm: Royals at the Opera House
The showpiece of the Sydney itinerary has finally arrived!
?King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the Opera House, greeting huge numbers of fans who've assembled to catch a glimpse of the royals.
Among them was a familiar face: British actress and comedy legend Joanna Lumley, who is performing at the Opera House tonight.
In some sections, the crowd is 12 rows deep.?
4.20pm: A 'deeply personal' visit for Charles
?King Charles has visited the Melanoma Institute Australia, in what is sure to have been a particularly significant engagement for the monarch.
"?This is, of course, a deeply personal engagement given his own cancer diagnosis," royal commentator Victoria Arbiter told 9News.
Arbiter also referenced the cancer diagnoses received by the King's daughter-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and his former sister-in-law Sarah, Duchess of York in recent months.
"This is a family that has been deeply affected by cancer," she said, adding that these kinds of appearance take on added meaning when one's family has faced cancer and its treatments.
King Charles is still undergoing cancer treatment, but paused it in order to travel to Australia for the tour.?
4.08am: The crowd keeps growing
?Judging by these crowds, Charles and Camilla are set to receive a rousing farewell from Sydney!
3.55pm: A sustainable discussion
?Following the barbeque in Parramatta, Charles attended a Sustainable Markets Initiative discussion at Admiralty House.
The initiative was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020, and aims to accelerate global climate, biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goal targets, particularly in the private sector.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn attended along with Sustainable Markets Initiative chief executive officer Jennifer Jordan-Saifi and the organisations co-chair Brian Moynihan.
A portrait of the King and Queen stood proudly on a side table off the main table that seated just short of 30 people.
The King was handed a pillow for his back as he was briefed by Mostyn.
"One of the great topics in Australia is our culture, the planet's future," Mostyn said.
"And we've had some extraordinary conversation this morning with leaders from right around the country, particularly in finance, insurance, superannuation, nature, and a great deal pf enthusiasm for the work that you made with the sustainable markets initiative."
She added there was agreement on the growing concentration of carbon, and "that we need to understand to make sure that real zero is put forth, not just net zero, and that proper targets are set that are achievable and understood by the Australian public".
-With pool reporters?
2.55pm: Waiting for a royal visit
Members of the public are flocking to one of Sydney's most iconic landmarks, the Opera House, in the hopes of catching a brief glimpse of the King and Queen.
The royals are expected to meet the people gathered there at around 3pm, then participate in a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Review.
Some locals have gone above and beyond for the once-in-a-lifetime visit, dressing up and waving Australian flags as they wait for the royals to arrive.
One woman named Natalie has been spotted with her pet dachshund named Bigglesworth, who is all kitted out in a royal robe and mini crown especially for the King and Queen's visit. ?
2.10pm: A special protocol 'breach'
Kings Charles was joined by the Queen to watch Meg and Colt round up the merino sheep in what was a quintessential Australian experience in western Sydney.
Camilla was not scheduled to watch the display but followed the King into the pen, where they stood in the blazing sun and marveled at the speed and skill of the dogs.
Once the round up was complete the King moved a little closer to the sheep for a better inspection.
As His Majesty was preparing to depart for the next stage of the barbeque, Jacqui Wilkinson approached the King for a photo with her two sons, Jordan and Tanner, and husband Murray.
In what some might have seen as a breach in royal protocol, Jacqui was able to pose alongside the monarch and her family จC a photo that will no doubt become one of her most prized possessions and highlights of the day.
The King looked momentarily amused but happily obliged, while also making sure the young boys were looking at the camera.? One for the pool room for sure!
1.40pm: The King's speech
His Majesty is giving a speech at the community BBQ in ?Paramatta Park, where he watched a sheepdog demonstration and barbecued sausages with the masses.
Speaking to hundreds of Australians gathered in the spring sun, he joked: "I knew I should have brought the egg timer along with me just to check that I didn't go on for too long."
Charles was "delighted" to be on the ground in Sydney's West and paid homage to the local First Nations community, who welcomed him so warmly, as well as the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
"It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine, whether it's smashed avo, a cab sav," he said, then glanced down at his speech and quipped "God almighty, they've got two pages on this bloody thing."
The crowd erupted in laughter, before His Majesty pushed on with the rest of his speech.?
1.10pm: Throwing a snag on the barbie
The royals have arrived at a community BBQ hosted by the Premier? in Paramatta Park, where the King and Queen will meet Surf Life Savers, see a sheepdog demonstration, and greet the public.
The royals also tried their hands at turning a few snags on the barbie.
It's a task members of the royal family are probably quite familiar with, according to royal commentator Victoria Arbiter.
"The royal picnics and barbecues at Balmoral are the stuff of folklore," Arbiter said, though she noted His Majesty wasn't quite as adept with the tongs as Camilla.
"Having said that, it's Prince Philip who was in charge of of the barbecues. Perhaps he didn't pass on the necessary skills to his offspring."
She also touched on the security required for a massive public event like this, noting that the King and Queen's security service would not have left a single stone unturned in order to protect the royals.
When things have gone wrong in the past, the King kept his cool.
"Back in 1994, someone shot blanks at then-Prince Charles when he was here," Arbiter said.
"He appeared completely unruffled. He straightened his cuff links. It was a scene out of James Bond while the security services tackled the perpetrator."
12.45pm: His Majesty gets to work
The King is wearing a hard hat as he unveils ?a plaque at the Homes NSW Cowper Street development in Sydney.
It's not his usual headgear, but His Majesty managed to make it work with a high-vis vest over his grey suit.?
The King was accompanied by the Prime Minister, who was also at Parliament House yesterday when Senator Lidia Thorpe made a loud protest after the King delivered a speech.
Discussing the incident on 9News, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said the King handled the situation beautifully.?
"It's not the first time King Charles has faced protestors. It certainly won't be the last," she said.
"To have yesterday hijacked, as it was, was unfortunate. The King, he has mastered the keep calm and carry on mantra and while it did make global headlines, as we have seen today, there are politicians from both sides of the divide who have criticised the actions."
12.10pm: Greeting unexpected guests?
Their Majesties are now greeting well-wishers ?in Sydney, including a number of unexpected guests.
Camilla was met outside Refettorio OzHarvest by a vibrant parrot named Caesar, who sat on his owner's shoulder as he was presented to the Queen.
Over at the ?National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, her husband was photographed meeting an adorable baby named Jack, who was dressed in a whale shark onesie.
Charles, who has five grandchildren of his own, was seen tickling the tot's chest as he spoke with Jack's mother.?
11.55am: Preparing to host the King and Queen?
Murray Wilkinson and his sons Jordan, six, and Tanner, four, will host the King when His Majesty watches a sheepdog demonstration at the Parramatta bbq.
The family, from Coolah in the NSW central west, has a long history of life on the land and say working dogs can sell for up to $40,000 because of how important they are to farming communities.
Jacqui Wilkinson told 9honey she and her family are thrilled to be meeting the King and it's their first brush with royalty.
Tanner, she said, had wanted to know whether the King would be bringing his uniformed guards with him today.
Murray's dogs - Meg, a border collie, and Colt, a kelpie - have been chosen for their temperament and obedience and will play a starring role shortly when they meet the King.
11.40am: ?A royal bookworm
Queen Camilla, a renowned book lover? who heads up a charity to promote literacy, has arrived at Green Square Library.
She's meeting with authors, students and award winners of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition.?
A young girl named Mia was also invited to read for the Queen.
Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said of the honour: "I think this young reader, she's going to remember that moment forever. Who gets to read for the Queen??"
11.05am: And we're off!
?The King and Queen have kicked off today's schedule with two solo engagements.
Charles is at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern? for a meeting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
On arrival he took part in a smoking ceremony.?
The monarch received a warm hug on arrival; a sight we never got to see on the late Queen Elizabeth's royal tours.?
During the visit, he will speak with Indigenous organisations and Redfern Elders including "bush tucker" chef Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla? is at food rescue organisation Refettorio Oz Harvest Sydney, based in Surry Hills.
There, she is meeting with ?staff, volunteers and board members and assisting with meal preparation.
The Queen is wearing a stunning blue dress for the occasion, which she styled with a glittering brooch in the shape of a dragonfly.
It is believed to be a piece from her personal collection, purchased by the King from ?jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels and gifted to his wife years ago.
READ MORE: 'What it takes to meet the King and Queen in the flesh'?
10am: A busy schedule?
While there will be two opportunities for the public to see Charles and Camilla this afternoon, many of the royal couple's engagements will be away from the public's eyes.
These include the King's visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern? for a meeting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
At the same time, the Queen will visit ?Refettorio Oz Harvest, followed by Green Square Library to meet authors, students and award-winners of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition.
It's likely to be an enjoyable event for Camilla, who is famously a book lover.?
Then, once the couple has built up an appetite, they'll head to a community barbecue in Parramatta, hosted by the premier.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will be invited to sample some of the best produce from across New South Wales at the Parramatta event.
They'll be joined by invited guests including volunteers and community, multicultural, political and sporting leaders.
Among the guests are Danny and Leila Abdallah, who forgave a drunk driver who killed three of their children in 2020. The family is hoping to secure royal support for their charity i4give Foundation, which promotes forgiveness.
Penrith local and Gold medal canoeist Noemie Fox is also attending along with singer and actress Casey Donovan, who grew up in Bankstown.
Celebrity chef Adam Liaw will be MCing, telling Today he aims to feed the monarch a classic 'democracy sausage'.
"It dawned on me that I've never seen him eat ... and so my goal is to see the King eat a snack," he said last week.
READ MORE: King Charles interrupted by laughter at formal event in Sydney?
The King will be meeting with Australians of the Year, Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, at the Melanoma Institute Australia.
During the meeting, he'll hear about their cancer research and treatment.
Before heading to the Opera House, the couple will make an appearance at Admiralty House.?
WATCH: The moment 9honey met King Charles and Queen Camilla in Sydney?
The King and Queen's engagements today come after they attended a church service in North Sydney on Sunday.
They greeted several members of the public, including 9honey royal reporter Natalie Oliveri, who waited outside the church to catch a glimpse of the couple.
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