King Charles and Queen Camilla confronted by furious politician who accuses royals of 'genocide'

Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal Australian independent senator, approached Charles and Camillla after they took to the stage in front of politicians and digitatories

King Charles has been accused of "committing genocide" by a furious Australian politician who began hollering at the monarch as he entered the country's parliament with Queen Camilla.

Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal Australian independent senator, has grabbed the headlines today with her verbal assault as she boldly confronted the British royals during their royal tour. Accusing the monarchy of historical atrocities, Senator Thorpe disrupted proceedings by shouting: "You are not my King" as she approached a bewildered Charles and Camilla on stage.

She further proclaimed, as royal protection officers tried to escort her out: "You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back, give us back what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people."

In a fervent plea as she was escorted out, Ms Thorpe declared: "You destroyed our lands, give us a treaty, we want a treaty in the country, you are a genocidalist. This is not your land, this is not your land, you are not my King, you are not our King."

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Additionally, cries of "not my King" and "f*** the colony" were heard from her. Meanwhile, the Royal couple remained unresponsive to the scene and diverted their attention elsewhere, to music that was being played by an orchestra.

This incident comes following Ms Thorpe's controversial statement a month before Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022, calling the late monarch a 'coloniser' during her parliamentary swearing-in.

She was forced to retake her oath of allegiance amid jeers from colleagues, saying: "You're not a senator if you don't do it properly."

Later, the independent MP, who last year parted ways with the Green Party over insufficient focus on indigenous rights, criticised the protocol as "archaic and ridiculous".

King Charles, on his inaugural Royal tour since his cancer diagnosis, embraced Australia's indigenous heritage by taking part in a "smoking ceremony" in Canberra.

This ritual, which aims to repel negative spirits and honour the land and ancestors, had been observed by the late Queen Elizabeth II, but this marks the first occasion a reigning monarch has actively engaged. Further embracing the local culture, tomorrow's schedule includes a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.

Meanwhile, the royas paid tribute to two Australian veterans from diverse backgrounds at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

After paying their respects with floral tributes to the Australian Defence Force troops who made the ultimate sacrifice, Charles and Camilla took a short walk to the memorial's roll of honour. A tradition has emerged where family members leave a poppy against the names of their fallen relatives, listed on long walls in the memorial's cloisters.

The King placed a poppy next to the name of Private William Punch, an Aboriginal Australian who was assigned manual work at the front and died in 1917 after being shot. Meanwhile, the Queen left her flower next to the name of former Mayor of Auburn, Private William James Johnson, who was 44 when he enlisted and was shot and killed at the battle of Pozières.

Inside the Hall of Memory at the memorial, Charles laid a wreath at the foot of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, alongside a floral posy placed by Camilla. As The Last Post played, the royal bowed their heads for a minute's silence, broken only by the sound of Reveille.

Since its construction in 1941, almost every royal visit to Australia has included a formal wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial, built to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australian Defence Force Veterans. In a separate ceremony, the King and Queen also marked the sacrifices of Indigenous Veterans at the new For our Country – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Memorial for the first time.

Following their exit from the hall, the King and Queen proceeded to the Commemorative Courtyard to sign the visitors' book. The memorial, being Australia's most frequented cultural institution, draws millions of visitors annually who come to pay tribute to the service of defence force personnel.

Upon stepping outside, Charles and Camilla were met by hundreds of well-wishers. However, the King was left in "disbelief" when an alpaca, donned in a crown and suit with a golden bow tie, sneezed on him as he approached to say hello.

Nine-year-old Hephner missed his cue when introduced to the King at the Australian War Memorial, causing laughter when he sneezed loudly as the King petted his nose. Thousands came out to welcome the King and Queen, with supporters waving flags and banners.

Among the crowd was Robert Fletcher, who brought along Hephner - named after his mother, Playgirl - on a lead, dressed in a gold crown and suit, complete with a gold bow tie for the occasion. Robert, from Goulburn, New South Wales, uses his alpaca as a support animal for charities and nursing homes.

While waiting for Charles, he said: "My wife found the crown and thought it was fitting. I think he loves his crown very much. He has lots of outfits but it's a special day so he is in a suit and bow tie as well. Hephner has met a few famous people before but this is the King. He wants to meet the King."

"He doesn't bite and he doesn't spit. He's always on his best behaviour anyway. And he is a pro-monarchy alpaca."

As Charles approached, Robert extended his hand and introduced the King to the creature. However, as the King gently patted him, the alpaca promptly let out a loud sneeze.

Reflecting on the incident, Robert said: "I got to shake his hand and then Hephner sneezed. The King just looked in disbelief. But it's just who Hephner is. He is an alpaca after all". The Royal couple were met with resounding cheers as they strolled 200 metres from the Australian War Memorial Council Member and Australian Army Veteran, 'Aunty' Lorraine Hatton.