King Charles III (center right) and Queen Camilla (center left) are greeted upon their arrival at Sydney International Airport Friday October 18, 2024 (AFP / Saeed KHAN)
King Charles received military honors from each corps of the Australian forces on Saturday, a prestigious welcome to kick off his nine-day visit to Australia and the Samoa Islands.
Charles can now boast of being a marshal of the Australian army, marshal of its air force and admiral of the fleet.
The 75-year-old monarch, diagnosed with cancer eight months ago, is starting his biggest tour since he was crowned.
After a journey of more than 20 hours, Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla landed late Friday in Sydney, in the rain.
They were greeted by local dignitaries and children carrying bouquets before a quick private meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée.
“We couldn’t wait to return to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special,” the couple said in a message posted on social media before their arrival.
His trip aims to strengthen the prestige of the monarchy among an uninterested Australian public.
A projection of images of King Charles III on the Sydney Opera House as members of the royal family arrive for a six-day visit to Sydney and Canberra, October 18, 2024 (AFP / David GRAY)
Opportunities to meet the public are planned with an event in front of the Sydney Opera House and a giant barbecue. A less luxurious and busy tour than usual, due to the state of health of the sovereign. A stop in New Zealand has been canceled, and there will be only six days in Sydney and Canberra before attending a Commonwealth summit in Samoa.
But with the exception of a handful of staunch monarchists and ardent republicans, the Australian public was largely indifferent to Charles’s visit.
– “Just an old white man” –
A recent poll found that around a third of Australians would like to get rid of the monarchy. A third would keep it and a third are mixed.
Support for the monarchy appears to have plunged since the last royal visit in 2011, when thousands of people flocked to greet Queen Elizabeth II.
“I think most people see him as a good king,” says Clare Cory, a 62-year-old Sydney lawyer who is divided on the British monarchy.
“Most of my ancestors came from England, I think we owe that country something,” she continues, before adding that Australia now looks more towards the Asia-Pacific region than one place “ on the other side of the world.
Some are more critical, seeing no reason to retain a king whose accent, dress and customs have little in common with the inhabitants of the Antipodes.
“He just gives the impression of an old white man,” said Maree Parker, a homeschooler. “We don’t need a king and a queen.”
– Beautiful memories –
Objects bearing the image of the royal family, near Cessnock, New South Wales, October 15, 2024 (AFP / DAVID GRAY)
Still, Australia holds many happy memories for Charles, and he can be sure to find supportive people there.
When he was Prince of Wales, he first visited Australia in 1966, aged 17, to study at Timbertop, a remote boarding school in the mountains of the southern state of Victoria. is from the country.
Recalling this period, Charles felt it was “by far the best part” of his education.
And everyone also remembers a photo that has become cult: Charles, 30 years old and still single, shirtless on a beach in Western Australia in 1979, intercepted by an Australian model in a bikini who kissed him on the plays.
