King Charles III has declared Australia’s leadership on climate change is of “absolute and critical importance” in a lightning-fast visit to Canberra, blemished only by a senator’s protest about the involvement of the monarchy in stealing Aboriginal land.
In an address in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Monday, King Charles acknowledged the “grief and shock” Australians had faced over recent years because of catastrophic weather events.
“The regular roll of unprecedented events is an unmistaken sign of climate change, to which Australia is so particularly vulnerable,” he said.
“This is why Australia’s international leadership on global initiatives to protect our climate and biodiversity is of such absolute and critical importance.
“Australia has all of the natural ingredients to create a more sustainable, regenerative way of living, by harnessing the power with which nature has endowed the nation. Whether it be wind or its famous sunshine, Australia is tracking the path towards a better and safer future.”
As the king took his seat, the independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe, who had turned her back to Charles during his speech, approached the stage, shouting: “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.”
The former Greens senator was escorted out by federal police but could be heard shouting from the foyer: “Fuck the colony.”
Thorpe, a Djab Wurrung, Gunnai and Gunditjmara woman, was involved in an earlier protest at the Australian War Memorial, where a group of about 20 held Aboriginal and Palestinian flags and called out “no pride in genocide” and “always was, always will be, Aboriginal land” through a megaphone.
The royal couple’s six-hour visit to Canberra on their second day of official appearances in Australia was swift but met mostly with excitement from the thousands who showed up to the tight schedule of events.
Shortly after touching down in Canberra’s Fairbairn airport, Charles and Camilla arrived at the Australian War Memorial to lay wreaths and greet the crowds.
Among them was Hephner the alpaca, who sported a sparkly gold crown and bow tie, paired with a blue velvet suit, and reportedly sneezed when meeting the king.
His owner, Robert Fletcher, said Hephner was a monarchist and thought it was a great opportunity to “dress him up as royalty and bring him today”.
Passionate monarchist Elaine Hoskins, who drove up from Melbourne, said the king had been the pin-up boy on her wall since she was 12. At 75, the same age as King Charles, her feverish jubilance is yet to die off.
King Charles and Queen Camilla then arrived at Parliament House, where they were greeted by more royal fans, who had lined up for hours to get a good spot, before the couple met with politicians and officials inside.
Armed with camp chairs and royal memorabilia from tours past, more than 500 were on hand at the forecourt to witness the ceremonial welcome, 21-gun salute and royal salute after the monarch’s motorcade rumbled up the driveway.
“It’s a historic occasion,” said royal fan Serena, who donned a jacket covered in Union Jack flags. She was joined by her husband, daughter and similarly-attired friend Gabriella - who also strapped a cardboard mask of Queen Camilla to her face.
Kathy Carter and her family brandished homemade “we love you” signs for the king and queen. Camilla stopped to briefly speak with them, a treat for Carter and her elderly mother.
“We would have sat here for another two hours,” Carter said. “It’s the pomp and ceremony ... but on the other hand, they’re so realistic and down to earth.”
After brief visits to the governor general’s house and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), where King Charles watched a seven-minute bushfire demonstration, the couple finished their Canberra visit at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Another tree was planted, this time a water gum, and the king asked the botanist to send him a picture when it was bigger.
They then set off back to the airport to make their return to Sydney after a warm spring’s day in Canberra, about six hours after landing.
