It turns out plenty of Canberrans do still love the monarchy

Yesterday, the memories came flooding back for Helen and Alison.

The two ladies were among a crowd of 4000 who turned out to see King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Australian War Memorial for the royal couple’s flying visit to Canberra.

“Oh, it was wonderful because it brought back so many memories of previous royal tours,” Helen told Region.

“As school children, the nuns at St Peter Chanel’s Church would have us lining up on Adelaide Avenue with our little flags, waiting for the Queen to go past in her Rolls Royce.”

Helen also watched the Queen open the National Carillon in April 1970, and Charles and Diana arrive at Fairbairn a few years later, “so to be here today was really special”, she said.

“I was able to shake Camilla’s hand, which was really special, and say ‘welcome’.”

If Charles hadn’t been summoned by his security detail to move on, Helen would have liked to thank His Majesty for “making the effort to come all the way here when he’s failing in his health a bit”.

“I think that’s really commendable.”

Charles has visited Australia on 14 previous occasions and Canberra during 10 of those, but yesterday was historic as it was his first as head of state.

There will certainly be moments to remember, such as the alpaca that turned out to greet them at the War Memorial. Or the packet of TimTams and toy kangaroo handed to Queen Camilla. Others won’t be washing their hands for weeks after receiving the royal handshake.

Not everyone was happy to see Their Majesties.

Protesters at the War Memorial accused the King of genocide with placards and megaphones. One was arrested for jumping the barrier.

Over on the lawns of Parliament House, another group sported Eureka flags and ‘Down with the monarchy’ messaging.

Then there was Greens-turned-independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, who brought official proceedings inside the Great Hall to a dramatic halt by busting in, clad in a kangaroo skin, and yelling, “This is not your land; you are not my king; we want our country back”.

Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan, who had welcomed Their Majesties to Parliament House moments before, later described the senator’s actions as “disrespectful” and said “Lidia Thorpe does not speak for me and my people, and I’m sure she doesn’t speak for a lot of First Nations people”.

“It was disrespectful to come there and go on like that, there’s a time and place,” she told The Guardian.

Earlier that morning at the RAAF base at Fairbairn, Ngunnawal elder Aunty Serena Williams had welcomed the royal couple with a smoking ceremony on the tarmac and expressed – in far more polite terms – the desire for the King to instigate a treaty with the Indigenous people.

Aunty Serena told Region it was “a beautiful opportunity to welcome them here as guests on my Country”.

“I think it also gave me the room to invite them to have further conversation … with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to sit down and advise and push the subject of treaty onto the Commonwealth of Australia,” she added.

“It’s overdue. It’s time for that to happen.”

Watching the 21-gun salute outside Parliament House, Eileen Smith has attended as many royal visits as she could. She “definitely” supports the monarchy.

“No reason not to,” she said simply.

“Australia, I don’t believe anyway, is not ready yet to be a republic. One day, but probably not in our lifetime.”

From a younger generation, Jess and Sophie took time out of work to stand on the grass-covered slopes for “about an hour and a half, judging by the sunburn”.

“It’s sort of like a ‘when in Canberra’ situation,” Sophie said.

“And when else are you going to be able to see a royal in your life? I’m from Tasmania – they don’t come down there too often.”

Should the monarchy continue? They’re in the “wait-and-see” camp.

“I just love a bit of pomp and circumstance,” Sophie added.

“It’s kind of like you’re in England – on a little trip away to Buckingham Palace.”

Jen and Nola both have memories of seeing the late Queen as children, Nola travelling to Wollongong with the rest of her Moss Vale school, and Jen’s primary school in Bredbo lined Dunrossil Drive to Government House to wave as Her Majesty passed.

“Keep it forever,” Jen said of the monarchy.

“It’s the best system of government in the world. Why change something that works and go for something that doesn’t work?

“People talk about the cost, but you’ve also got to think about the amount of money the royal family raises by their attendance at events – the tourists that flock to see them and that brings money into the cities and towns they go to. It’s worth it.”

Later that afternoon, when the Queen met with one of her patron organisations, GIVIT, founder Juliette Wright would make a similar point.

“Your attention on us is going to help donations flow,” Ms Wright told the Queen.

A group of young men, two of them with enormous Australian flags slung over their shoulder, told Region the monarchy should continue to hold the ceremonial role it does in Australia.

“I’m quite happy with the status quo,” one said, followed by a “God save the King!”