King Charles and Queen Camilla to attend church service

19 Oct 2024, 21:55 by Padraig Collins For Daily Mail Australia · Mail Online

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are currently in Australia for their royal tour.

The importance of the trip is underlined by the fact King Charles will be halting his cancer treatment to make the journey, but it also means the itinerary will be less jam-packed for the 75-year-old.

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage.

01:28

Disturbing sight among anti-monarchist crowd

Anti-monarchist Lizzy Jarrett wore an Abolish the Monarchy t-shirt with the late Queen Elizabeth's face and cursed as she said she had the same name as 'that b*tch'.

She said the group was there to protest against British rule and return of Aboriginal land.

It is the King's first visit as the country's new sovereign and, fascinatingly, the first time in history a King of Australia has ever been to the country where he is head of state.

The only monarch to have visited so far was Queen Elizabeth II, the last time being just over a decade ago in 2011 to mark her Golden Jubilee.

Her father, King George VI, was unable to travel there due to his ill health, while King George V never attempted the lengthy journey.

Charles and Camilla's first Australia engagement gets underway
Queen Camilla was wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and coat with a straw hat by Lock & Co as she and her husband stepped out at St Thomas' Church in Sydney.
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01:21

King Charles celebrates the bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council - and offers an hourglass as a gift

Speaking at a celebration of the bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council on Sunday, King Charles cast his mind back 200 years ago.

'Thinking about those times (is) making me wonder what that inaugural handful of members of the New South Wales Legislative Council would make of this Parliament today.

'And of how this Parliament today and this great state has progressed.

'Those original council members were, as I understand it, squeezed into the Old Government House, not far from here, and then moved into borrowed rooms in this building.

'From that vantage point, regardless of their optimism, it was no doubt impossible to imagine what is now the vast and vibrant state of New South Wales, which has evolved and grown,' he said.

The King added that 'To reflect on the story of this institution and this date is to see the promise and power of representative democracy.

'Generations of voices have been brought together for discussion and debate. Grappling with each days' challenges and opportunities. Holding power to account, and driving meaningful change.'

The Monarch pointed out that while 'Democratic systems must evolve, of course, to remain fit for purpose, they are, nevertheless, essentially sound systems, as I said in this building 50 years ago.

'When underpinned by wisdom and good faith, democracy has, I believe, an extraordinary capacity for innovation, compromise and adaptability as well as stability.

'Moreover, strong parliamentary systems like the one we celebrate on this special occasion are fundamental to the democracies that serve today's diverse societies, and a more vital given the ever changing, natural, social, economic and technological environment.'

The King then joked about his age.

'Since I was here in 1974 - incidentally, I first came to Australia almost 60 years ago which is slightly worrying - this place and the people in it have continued to uphold strong representative traditions.

'To everyone who has been a part of this, I can only offer my warmest congratulations. In the spirit of marking the passage of time, it is my great pleasure to present a small gift to the Parliament.

'It is, in fact, an hourglass, a speech timer, to sit in the chamber and bear witness to the Legislative Council's next chapter.

'The sands of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great honour 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.

'So, thank you. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for making me feel so very welcome.'

King Charles' poignant act during royal visit to Australia
The passing of time was clearly on the King's mind as he remarked on the 'slightly worrying' fact that he first came to the country nearly sixty years ago.
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02:55

Queen Camilla makes time for monarchists in Sydney on Sunday

Queen Camilla made sure she gave time to her devout supporters in Sydney on Sunday, outside St Thomas' Anglican church.

The Queen also signed the guest book inside the church, which is on the city's north shore.

02:43

King Charles shows how 'ridiculous' Australian leaders are

King Charles received Margaret Beazley, the Governor of New South Wales, for an audience at Admiralty House in Sydney, on Sunday.

One online commenter refers to the majesty King Charles brought to Australia during his visit.

They said the meeting with Ms Beazley, and His Royal Highness' other events on Sunday, were so successful, they showed the world 'how ridiculous (Australian) "leaders" are.

'Great speech King Charles and hopefully if you ever grace our land again we may have regained some National pride,' they wrote.

Another wrote that 'Our kind and charitable sovereign, King Charles III continues to lead by example. What a man!'

02:29

High praise for King's dress sense

Many online commenters have praised the King's style and dress sense after his public appearances on Sunday.

One fan wrote that 'Several hundred people lined Macquarie Street to watch King Charles’s arrival at NSW state parliament.

'He stepped out of his black car wearing a beige suit and a pale pink pocket square. Love the costume detail. No wonder, our King is always the centre of attention.'

Another spoke about the 'Lovely photos of our Australian King, Charles III, and Queen Camilla with the crowds at St Thomas Church.'

02:21

Social media users give their thoughts on Royal visit to Australia

Social media users have been busy posting their thoughts about King Charles and Queen Camilla's trip to Australia.

'This is so heartwarming! King Charles and Queen Camilla are being welcomed with such love and warmth in Australia,' wrote one.

'The connection between the royals and the people here is truly special. What a beautiful start to their visit!'

Another wrote that it was 'Great to see King Charles on such jovial form despite the travel on the second day of his visit to Australia with Queen Camilla.'

A third said that the King and Queen 'look like a couple who actually like each other'.

02:05

Royal fan gets precious time with Queen Camilla

Devout monarchists Helen Hetrelezis and her brothers arrived at St Thomas' Anglican church at 7.45am on Sunday morning, almost three hours before the King and Queen were due to arrive there for a church service.

But their enthusiasm paid off when Ms Hetrelezis was granted a few moments with Queen Camilla after church.

'We spoke about her visit. I asked the Queen about her stay, she said she was enjoying Sydney very much,' Ms Hetrelezis told the Australian Associated Press.

01:58

King and Queen all smiles in first public appearance on Australian visit

King Charles and Queen Camilla have made their first public appearance in Australia, greeting well-wishers as they attended a church service in Sydney.

The Royal couple was welcomed on Sunday by crowds that thronged around St Thomas' Anglican church on the city's north shore.

As the King and Queen made their way to the entrance, children waving Australian flags cheered and shook hands with them.

The Queen, wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, was given flowers by the church minister's wife, Ellie Mantle, as she entered the church.

Despite the guests of honour, Sunday's service was largely restricted to the regular local congregation.

Only a few dignitaries were allowed to attend, including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley.

King Charles cracks five-word joke at church service
The royal couple were met with loud cheers from the hundreds of well-wishers gathered as they arrived at St Thomas' Anglican Church in North Sydney on Sunday morning.
Mail Online
01:49

King Charles meets the Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn at Admiralty House

The King has met his representative in Australia, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, at Admiralty House in Sydney.

01:44

Aussie royalist calls out disappointing behaviour

An Aussie royalist slammed anti-monarchists for crashing the North Sydney church service on Sunday morning.

'I mean, the King has cancer and the fact he is actually taking the time to come here,' she said.

'I think it says a lot about him and the Queen.'

01:12

King Charles' doctor on standby as Royal couple depart church service

00:58

King Charles makes major commitment to universities in the Pacific

The King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme will offer fellowships to people at varying levels of their careers and studies in a bid to support homegrown solutions to the biggest problems facing Pacific nations, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) announced on Sunday.

Many of Australia's smaller neighbours are on the frontlines of climate change, with rising sea levels threatening homes.

But relative isolation also imposes a host economic and social challenges, prompting young people to look to bigger countries in the region to build their futures.

The King said he hoped the scheme would help further 'the free exchange of knowledge' and build 'towards a brighter future for all.'

'Throughout my life I have believed in the power of education to improve lives and unite communities across the Commonwealth and beyond,' he said.

'There is so much we can learn from one another as we work together within the Commonwealth to tackle the major challenges of our age and, as these Fellowships do in Small Island Developing States, to address them where they are felt most acutely.

'It is my fervent hope that these new Fellowships will play a significant role in furthering the free exchange of knowledge and advancing the spirit of mutual support that lies at the heart of our Commonwealth - today, tomorrow and towards a brighter future for all.'

00:55

Rapturous reception for Royals in Sydney's spring sunshine

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were very warmly greeted by delighted wellwishers as they arrived for a church service in North Sydney on Sunday morning.

There was a high level of security when the Royals arrived at St Thomas' Anglican Church for the first official duty of their short tour of Australia.

Though there were some protesters, they were outnumbered by those happy to see the King and Queen, who waved Australian flags and cheering the Royals.

00:41

King and Queen pictured at special Royal church service in Sydney

The service at St Thomas, one of Australia's oldest churches, was held by the Archbishop of Sydney and restricted to the local congregation.

00:29

Royal couple light up Sydney Opera House sails

The Sydney Opera house was lit up on Friday night with photographs of King Charles and Queen Camilla illuminated on the sails.

Some of the photographs shared were taken decades ago during King Charles' previous trips to Down Under.