Roi Charles Australie: The Royal Visit and Its Significance

The Royal Presence in Australia

Roi Charles Australie saw the king attend a church service, expressing his great joy to be back in Australia during his first public appearance since arriving in the country. The 75-year-old monarch, who arrived with his wife Camilla in Sydney late Friday, had taken Saturday to rest before fulfilling his royal duties. His first public appearance was at the Anglican Church of Saint Thomas in northern Sydney, where hundreds gathered, applauding with flowers and flags in hand.

Honoring Democracy

Later that day, Charles delivered a brief speech at the New South Wales legislative council, praising the promise and power of representative democracy. He even made a joke about his age, saying, 'I first came to Australia almost 60 years ago, which is a little alarming.' He then expressed how happy he was to visit for the first time as sovereign.

Looking Ahead

Charles will spend the rest of Sunday at Admiralty House, the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia, the monarch's representative in the country. Another opportunity to see the king will arise on Monday during his arrival in Canberra, the capital, for the busiest part of a light schedule compared to traditional royal visits.

The king's fragile health has precluded long crowds and a multi-week agenda. This nine-day tour of Australia and the Samoa Islands is his first major tour since his coronation and announcement of his cancer diagnosis. A handful of protesters gathered near the church, holding signs calling for the 'decolonization' of Australia. Recent polling indicates about a third of Australians favor abolishing the monarchy, a third want to retain it, and a third have no opinion. Enthusiasm for the monarchy in the country in 2024 is notably lower than during the last royal visit in 2011, when thousands gathered to greet Queen Elizabeth II.