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King Charles brushes off Indigenous protest – Royal family news

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King Charles brushes off Indigenous protest – Royal family news

King Charles heckled by Australian senator: ‘Give us our land back’

The King has brushed off protests from Indigenous people on the final day of his Australian tour.

When Charles met First Nations elders during a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Sydney on Tuesday, one told him their goal was “sovereignty” in an apparent reference to a protest the previous day.

On Monday, the monarch was accused of “genocide” against Australia’s First Nations by senator Lidia Thorpe who told him, “You are not my King.”

The Indigenous senator has spoken out to explain why she confronted Charles after his parliamentary address.

Ms Thorpe, from Victoria, has long advocated for a treaty between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians to recognise their autonomy and set right historical wrongs.

This was followed by a visit to a pioneering cancer clinic where the king met with fellow cancer sufferers and those working to combat the disease.

At the Melanoma Institute Australia, the monarch met with brain cancer survivor Richard Scolyer, who is in remission after undergoing pioneering surgery last year.

He also learned about the work being used to combat melanoma – one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in Australia.

“That was an amazing opportunity for us to tell the king about what we’re doing here trying to deal with Australia’s national cancer, and to talk about how we’re trying to get to zero deaths from melanoma,” Mr Scolyer said.

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Lidia Thorpe protest criticised by Australian PM

Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe, who campaigns on First Nations issues, disrupted Charles’s welcome to the capital Canberra with her protest on Monday.

Her comments were criticised by Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese, who attend the event and later told The Australian newspaper: “The actions of the independent senator in the Great Hall were disrespectful. This is not the standard of behaviour Australians rightly expect of parliamentarians.”

Athena Stavrou21 October 2024 15:15

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Queen Victoria statue vandalised in Sydney ahead of royal visit

A statue of Queen Victoria has been defaced with red paint in Sydney ahead of the final day of the Australian leg of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour.

The statue is located close to the Sydney Opera House, where the royals met with the public today as they celebrated its 50th anniversary.

This comes hot on the heels of a high-profile protest from Australian senator Lidia Thrope, who shouted “You’re not my King!” after Charles’s speech at Parliament House in Canberra.

The defaced statue is located close to the Sydney Opera House.
The defaced statue is located close to the Sydney Opera House. (Social media)

Emma Guinness22 October 2024 09:30

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King Charles and Queen Camilla meet well-wishers at Sydney Opera House

The royals were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic opera house.

People line the forecourt at the Sydney Opera House as they await the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
People line the forecourt at the Sydney Opera House as they await the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. (Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
Hundreds of well-wishers flocked to the Syndey Opera House to catch a glimpse of the king and queen.
Hundreds of well-wishers flocked to the Syndey Opera House to catch a glimpse of the king and queen. (Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
King Charles III and Queen Camilla posed for a photo with schoolchildren at the Sydney Opera House.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla posed for a photo with schoolchildren at the Sydney Opera House. (Chris Jackson/PA Wire)

Emma Guinness22 October 2024 09:19

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King Charles urges Australia to take leading role in climate change fight

King Charles urged Australia to take a leading role in the fight against climate change in his Parliament House speech on the second day of his royal tour.

On Monday, the King asserted that Australia’s character “is hardly more vivid” than when it is “tested by disaster” and cited several examples of devastating natural events that have taken place in recent years.

He said he is always “deeply impressed” by the “extraordinary bravery and resilience” of the Australian people for their willingness to “battle on” before acknowledging the role that climate change is playing in these events.

“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,” he said. “Whether it be wind or its famous sunshine, Australia is tracking the path towards a better and safer future.”

King Charles during the Ceremonial Welcome to Australia at Australian Parliament House in Canberra (Victoria Jones/PA)
King Charles during the Ceremonial Welcome to Australia at Australian Parliament House in Canberra (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

Emma Guinness22 October 2024 08:56

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Charles launches Australian version of his King’s Foundation charity

The King has launched an Australian version of his King’s Foundation charity.

Charles unveiled the plans for The King’s Foundation Australia at a special reception at Admiralty House in Sydney during his high-profile royal tour.

The charity’s first project will be as the custodian of the Hillview Estate in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, working to restore the historic property and its surrounding land.

The state-heritage listed former summer residence of the governor of New South Wales will serve as The King’s Foundation Australia’s permanent base and be developed as a “landmark cultural hub”, the charity said.

Inspiration has been taken from the regeneration of Dumfries House – an 18th century mansion in Ayrshire, Scotland, which now acts as The King’s Foundation’s headquarters after it was saved for the nation in 2007 by a consortium led by Charles as the Prince of Wales.

The King set up his original foundation, previously called The Prince’s Foundation, to train the next generation of skilled craftspeople – including in building, carpentry, fashion and textiles – in heritage techniques essential to many traditional industries.

Practical education and training programmes in traditional and heritage craft will also be developed at Hillview.

Kristina Murrin, the Australian-born chief executive of The King’s Foundation, said the new foundation was a sign of Charles’s affection for Australia.

The charity’s first project will be as the custodian of the Hillview Estate in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, working to restore the historic property and its surrounding land
The charity’s first project will be as the custodian of the Hillview Estate in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, working to restore the historic property and its surrounding land (The King’s Foundation Australia/PA Wire)

Tara Cobham22 October 2024 07:41

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Watch: Alpaca sneezes on King Charles during walkabout in Australia

Alpaca sneezes on King Charles during walkabout in Australia

Tara Cobham22 October 2024 07:39

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Charles and Camilla take charge of the tongs at Sydney ‘sausage sizzle’ barbeque

The King and Queen flipped sausages on a barbecue when they joined locals in a park for a taste of suburban life in Sydney.

In New South Wales’ blistering sunshine, Charles and Camilla gave chefs a hand tending the snags – or sausages – grilling on the barbecue.

The King was handed some tongs and clicked them in anticipation and the Queen did the same before they set about making sure the “top tucker” cooked evenly, with Charles looking after the vegetarian option and his wife the beef bangers.

Restaurant manager Scott McCoy, 42, was looking after the barbecue and said it was an “honour” to have some royal helpers.

Known by his nickname Chop, he added: “They said the sausages were amazing, they didn’t try them but they could see.”

The 42-year-old who manages the BlackBear BBQ restaurant in Sydney said: “It’s amazing they’re here helping us to cook.”

In a speech to the guests, Charles said: “… I am so delighted to be here, in Parramatta – an excellent choice for a community barbecue, since Parramatta was a place where First Nations people from around the region also came together for generations to meet and to trade food.

“It is a particular delight to see and smell all the ‘top tucker’ here today, from Western Sydney’s vibrant and diverse community.”

He added: “As we are happily rediscovering today, New South Wales farmers continue to produce truly outstanding food and wine.

“It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine, whether it’s smashed avo, a pav, or a Cab Sav and that is what I hope has been on display!”

King Charles and Queen Camilla help cook sausages during a community barbeque hosted by the Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns at Parramatta Park in Sydney
King Charles and Queen Camilla help cook sausages during a community barbeque hosted by the Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns at Parramatta Park in Sydney (Toby Mellville/PA Wire)

Tara Cobham22 October 2024 07:38

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King faces Indigenous activists for second day in a row on Australia tour

The King was confronted for a second day by First Nations activists questioning the supremacy of the British monarchy in Australia.

When Charles met Indigenous elders during a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Sydney one told him their goal was “sovereignty”.

The visit came after the King was accused on Monday of “genocide” against Australia’s First Nations by senator Lidia Thorpe who told him “You are not my King”.

Elder Allan Murray from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council appeared to reference Senator Thorpe’s words in his Sydney greeting.

Charles nodded as he said: “Welcome to country. We’ve got stories to tell, and I think you witnessed that story yesterday in Canberra, but the story is unwavering and we’ve got a long way to achieve what we want to achieve and that’s our own sovereignty. But welcome to Gadigal land.”

King Charles watches a performance by the Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam group during a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday
King Charles watches a performance by the Mui Mui Bumer Gedlam group during a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday (Lisa Maree Williams/Pool Photo via AP)

Tara Cobham22 October 2024 07:21

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Watch moment King Charles heckled by Australian senator Lidia Thorpe: ‘You are not my King’

This is the moment senator Lidia Thorpe heckles King Charles during a reception in Australia’s parliament.

The monarch had just finished addressing lawmakers in Canberra on Monday when Ms Thorpe shouted “This is not your land. You are not my King.”

She continued raising her voice in protest, saying “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.

“You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty!”

Security stopped Ms Thorpe from getting close and ushered her out of the chamber as the King turned to talk to prime minister Anthony Albanese.

King Charles heckled by Australian senator: ‘Give us our land back’

Athena Stavrou22 October 2024 07:00

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Full story: King Charles heckled by Australian senator shouting ‘you are not my king’

As he finished his speech, senator Lidia Thorpe approached the stage and shouted for around 30 seconds, saying “this is not your country”.

“You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people,” said Ms Thrope, an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights.

Read the full story below:

Athena Stavrou22 October 2024 05:30

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