King Charles’ First Public Appearance in Australia: Church Service and Remarks at Legislative Council
King Charles Makes First Public Appearance in Australia, Receives Warm Welcome
King Charles’ antipodean admirers were thrilled to catch a glimpse of their reigning monarch as he made his first official public appearance in Australia on Sunday. The 75-year-old sovereign arrived in Sydney late on Friday evening, but had kept a low profile as he continues to recover from cancer while fulfilling his royal duties.
His first public outing was a Sunday morning service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church, where a few hundred people gathered to cheer, hold flowers, and wave flags. Among the crowd were two women holding up a sign that read “G’day your majesties”. One dedicated fan, Lynton Martin, drove nine hours from Melbourne and adorned himself with union flag print jacket and nine royal lapel pins to show his support for the king.
During the church service, Bishop Christopher Edwards prayed for peace and an end to wars, and wished for prosperity for Charles’ upcoming Commonwealth summit in Samoa. Later in the day, Charles made a brief speech at the New South Wales legislative council, where he humorously acknowledged his advancing age and expressed his joy at returning to Australia as sovereign.
Despite his recent health challenges, Charles is embarking on a nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa, marking his first major foreign tour since being crowned. The visit has been scaled back in terms of grandeur due to his health, with fewer public events and gatherings planned to accommodate his recovery.
While some protesters gathered near the church demanding to “decolonise” Australia, the overall reception for King Charles has been positive. Australians, while not as enthusiastic about the monarchy as they once were, still showed their support and respect for the monarch during his visit.
Royal watchers will have another chance to catch a glimpse of King Charles on Monday when he arrives in Canberra alongside Queen Camilla for the next leg of his tour. Despite the scaled-back schedule, the king’s visit is sure to be a memorable and meaningful experience for both him and his Australian admirers.
