Royal visit 2024: Cheers and jeers, a look back at the day King Charles came to Canberra

UPDATE 7:34 pm: King Charles and Queen Camilla rounded off their day in Canberra with a tree planting at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

The water gum (tristaniopsis laurina) was already waiting in its place when Their Majesties arrived, but it was left to the King to pick up the shovel and fill the gaps around it with dirt.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek then helped Queen Camilla water it.

“It’s a nice spot,” the King said.

“Will you send me a photograph when it gets bigger?” he asked the horticulture manager Janine Baines.

Upon leaving Parliament House in the early afternoon, the royal couple planted another tree at Government House before going their separate ways.

His Majesty was invited to start a ‘Pyrotron’ demonstration at CSIRO’s National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory which, over seven minutes, replicated a bushfire inside a 29-metre combustion wind tunnel.

The eucalyptus smoke emanating from the tunnel was “the smell of science”, CSIRO head Doug Hilton joked with the King.

Outside, an ACT Rural Fire Service engine doused itself during a “burn-over drill”, demonstrating how firefighters stuck in a truck in the middle of a fire storm survive.

“It was very encouraging to see what they can do,” the King briefly told reporters afterwards.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla – alongside Governor-General Sam Mostyn – met with representatives from various domestic violence organisations in a round-table discussion at Government House.

As someone who has worked to highlight organisations supporting victims of rape and sexual assault for over a decade, it’s a matter close to Her Majesty’s heart.

At the Australian National Botanic Gardens, while the King was treated to a private tour of the ‘Banksia Garden’, the Queen also met with representatives from GIVIT, a Canberra charity of which she’s patron.

Founded in 2009 by Juliette Wright, GIVIT helped coordinate disaster relief efforts for the 2011 Queensland floods, 2020 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and 2021 NSW floods.

The Queen herself donated towards school uniforms and supplies for children in bushfire-affected areas during Black Summer.

“You were so tiny in 2020,” the Queen told Ms Wright, recalling when she first got in touch with GIVIT.

“I’m so glad I’ve been able to see you in person not just looking at you on a screen. It’s never the same as face-to-face,” Her Majesty added.

After a lengthy discussion with mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest at the Botanic Gardens, one of the King’s final interactions was with Leo Turner, a 12-year-old from Ainslie School.

“What’s your favourite sport?” Leo asked the King.

“I can’t do much now. Too many injuries. I used to sit on a horse,” the King replied, before saying goodbye.

UPDATE 4:05 pm: Former prime minister Tony Abbott has described a protest by Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe as “unfortunate political exhibitionism”.

Another of the guests, Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne, “was absolutely amazed that she got through the door”.

“That was uncalled for and un-Australian,” Mr Payne said.

Senator Thorpe was a guest at the event as an elected Victorian Senator, but interrupted proceedings by marching towards the podium, wearing a kangaroo skin and loudly yelling at the King and Queen, “This is not your land; you are not my King; we want our country back.”

Mr Payne, who was awarded the highest military honour for his service in Vietnam, was one of the guests who spoke with the King as the royal couple left the reception.

Another guest, businessman Dick Smith, said the disruption was an aspect of Australian democracy.

“I think that’s the wonderful part of our democracy – that she’s not going to be put in jail,” he said.

Mr Smith has known the King for many years, and met the-then Prince Charles in 1982 when Smith landed his helicopter on the grounds of Balmoral Castle in the United Kingdom.

UPDATE 3:15 pm: ‘You are not my King!’ Senator Thorpe disrupts proceedings at Parliament House

The parliamentary reception for the King and Queen came to a dramatic conclusion inside the Great Hall with a loud protest by Greens-turned-independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.

The radical Senator interrupted proceedings by marching towards the podium, wearing a kangaroo skin and loudly yelling: “This is not your land; you are not my King; we want our country back.”

She was escorted out of the hall and then the King and Queen were guided onto the floor to greet a number of the guests still inside.

Prior to that excitement, the King and Queen were heralded into the Great Hall by trumpeted fanfare then ushered onto the stage by Indigenous elders playing didgeridoo and clapping sticks.

A youth choir sang the national anthem in both English and Ngunnawal before Aunty Violet Sheridan offered a warm Welcome to Country.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reminded the King of his earliest connections to Australia, including being interviewed on Countdown by Molly Meldrum.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also spoke and noted all the new haircuts, shined shoes and fresh shirts in the audience – “and that’s just the republicans,” he said.

King Charles then rose to express his deep affection for Australia and immense respect for the Ngunnawal and all Indigenous peoples across the nation.

“It is in all our interest to be stewards of the world,” the King said, adding there was much to be learned from First Nations people in that regard.

UPDATE 2:50 pm: Thousands turn out to greet King and Queen

More than 4,000 people turned out to see King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the Australian War Memorial around noon today.

After paying their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier with the laying of a wreath and floral tribute and placing some poppies on the Roll of Honour, Their Majesties greeted members of the public on a walk to the ‘For Our Country’ memorial.

This memorial, located in the Memorial’s Sculpture Garden, recognises the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“We are honoured that Their Majesties chose to visit For Our Country and learn a little about Australia’s proud Indigenous military service,” said Aunty Lorraine Hatton OAM, the first Indigenous female member of Council of the Australian War Memorial.

“Their acknowledgment is significant, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, many of whom were forced to hide their Indigenous heritage last century in order to serve their country,” Aunty Lorraine said.

While on site, Their Majesties walked between two trees with Royal connections – the original Lone Pine tree planted from a pine cone at the Memorial 90 years ago by Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, in October 1934, and a sapling planted by the King’s son, Prince William, 10 years ago on Anzac Day 2014, propagated from that same tree.

Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson described the royal visit as “a powerful reminder of the value they attach to the service of Australia’s military and peace-keeping personnel across many decades and of the Memorial’s mission to lead remembrance and understanding of the wartime experience of all Australians”.

Today’s visit to the Memorial was King Charles’s first as the reigning monarch. Their Majesties last visited the Memorial in 2015 on Remembrance Day, 11 November.

UPDATE 12:40 pm: King and Queen touchdown in Canberra

The King and Queen have touched down in Canberra at the RAAF base at Fairbairn on board an RAAF jet to the hoots and flag-waving of hundreds of school children.

Their Majesties did appear to be running slightly behind schedule, but that hasn’t dampened the spirits of the crowd gathered on the tarmac to meet them.

King Charles’ royal wave as he exited the plane alongside Queen Camilla was met with cheers.

The royal couple were introduced to a number of officials, including Official Secretary to the Governor-General Gerard Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Head of the ACT Public Service Kathy Leigh and Professor Glyn Davis from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ngunnawal elder Aunty Serena Williams, resplendent in traditional dress, welcomed Their Majesties with a smoking ceremony.

Ruby from Bonython Primary School and Indigo from Cranleigh School each presented the couple with a posy of flowers, with both King and Queen stooping to talk briefly with each.

After more royal waves directed at the crowd, Their Majesties were escorted by police off to their next appointment at the Australian War Memorial, where more excited members of the public await them.

UPDATE 11:20 am: Excitement is building ahead of the King and Queen’s arrival

Canberra has turned on spectacular spring weather for the King and Queen’s visit this morning.

The royal couple is expected to arrive in the ACT in about 30 minutes, but the crowds have already begun to build outside the Australian War Memorial hours before the event.

As soon as they land, it will be a busy schedule, as their tour of Canberra will end about 5 pm this afternoon.

In a nutshell, the expected itinerary is:

• 11:50 am: King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive at the RAAF Squadron VIP Terminal where an official welcoming and welcome to county will take place.
• 12:15 pm : The King will lay a wreath in the Australian War Memorial’s hall of memory while the Queen will lay a floral tribute.
• 1 pm: Their Majesties will arrive at Parliament House. They will attend a ceremonial welcome, a parliamentary reception and meet the public.
• 3:15 pm: At Government House, the Queen will discuss domestic violence at an event hosted by Governor General Sam Mostyn.
• 4:20 pm: The King will visit the CSIRO National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory while the Queen will be at the botanic gardens meeting volunteers.
• 5 pm: The royal couple will finish their Canberra visit with a tree planting.

9 am: King Charles and Queen Camilla are flying into the RAAF base at Fairbairn this morning, ahead of a full day of touring Canberra.

The royal couple arrived in Sydney on Friday (18 October) for Charles’ first visit to Australia as head of state and the first visit by a reigning monarch since Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia in 2011.

They attended a church service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in Sydney on Sunday morning, followed by a visit to the NSW Parliament to mark 150 years of the state government.

“It is fascinating, I think, to reflect back to 200 years ago. Thinking about those times makes one wonder what that inaugural handful of members of the New South Wales Legislative Council would make of this Parliament today and of how this great state has progressed,” His Majesty said during a speech.

The King received both the Governor-General Sam Mostyn and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley on separate occasions at Admiralty House.

When Their Majesties arrive in Canberra this morning, they’ll be greeted on the tarmac by Official Secretary to the Governor-General Gerard Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Head of the ACT Public Service Kathy Leigh (on behalf of the Chief Minister), Professor Glyn Davis from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Ngunnawal elder Aunty Serena Williams.

Aunty Serena will perform a welcome-to-country and smoking ceremony.

School students will also attend, with Ruby from Bonython Primary School and Indigo from Cranleigh School to present the Queen with a posy.

From here, the King and Queen will be chauffeured to the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The couple last visited the site for the Remembrance Day Ceremony in 2015.

They’ll meet with members of the public around 11 am on their way to the ‘For Our Country – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ memorial in the Memorial’s sculpture garden.

Their Majesties will go on to Parliament House to receive a ‘Ceremonial Welcome’ from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and fiancé Jodie Haydon.

Cannon fire will echo across the city as they receive a 21-gun salute and a guard honour at around 1 pm.

Inside the House, Their Majesties will both sign the visitor’s book alongside the Prime Minister as well as President of the Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick, before attending a reception at Aussies Café in the Great Hall, where the King will deliver a speech.

Shortly afterwards, they’ll meet with members of the public again on the Parliament House forecourt.

From here, the royal couple will plant a tree at Government House before going their separate ways for the afternoon.

The King will meet with scientists and firefighters at the CSIRO National Bushfire Research Laboratory, while the Queen will attend an event for domestic violence survivors.

Both will reunite at the Australian National Botanic Gardens later in the afternoon for a tour.

Their Majesties return to Sydney tomorrow (Tuesday) before flying out to Samoa for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Wednesday.

More to come.