Queen Camilla has paid tribute to Australia by wearing a brooch previously gifted by the nation to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Australian wattle brooch, estimated to be worth £110,000, was on display as King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Sydney today to begin their first tour of Australia since their Coronation.
Despite local downfalls, the King and Queen descended the staircase onto the runway at 10:30am British time this morning.
The Queen wore a royal blue dress, matching the Sydney Opera House, which was lit blue with a four-minute montage of pictures of the royals to honour Their Majesties.
The Australian wattle brooch was on display as King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Sydney today to begin their first tour of Australia since their coronation.
PA / Reuters
The royal pair posted a message on their official social media: “Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special. See you there!”
The message was signed off with “Charles R & Camilla R”.
This is the King’s first major international tour since his cancer diagnosis in February earlier this year and the first visit from the monarch since his Coronation.
The tour also marks the first visit from its Head of State since 2011.
Despite local downfalls, the King and Queen descended the staircase onto the runway at 10:30GMT this morning.
Reuters
Republicans have dubbed the six-day trip to Australia “The Farewell Oz Tour”.
GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker was reporting on the scene in Sydney.
He said: “This is a historic moment for His Majesty the King.”
The King and Queen will later meet world leaders and participate in a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which Charles will formally open in Samoa.
The Sydney Opera House was lit blue with a four-minute montage of pictures of the royals to honour their majesties.
Reuters
Dr George Gross, royal historian and visiting research fellow at King’s College London, said: “This is a tour of significant firsts.
“Although King Charles III has travelled to Australia many times, this will be his first visit there as sovereign and the first tour to the country by a reigning monarch since 2011.
“It will also be the King’s first official overseas tour since his cancer diagnosis, his first to a Commonwealth realm and, while visiting Samoa, he will lead the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of his reign.
“It is notable too that he is visiting Australia in the year after his Coronation, as this echoes the 1954 tour by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II following her Coronation in 1953.”
