All the highlights of King Charles and Queen Camilla's Canberra visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla have completed the first full day of engagements of their Australian tour.
The royal couple spent the day in Canberra, and will return to Sydney for another day of appearances on Wednesday.
READ MORE: 'What it takes to meet the King and Queen in the flesh'
The King and Queen have wrapped up a day of engagements in Canberra. Getty
While in the capital, the King and Queen's schedule included visits to the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House and Government House, with some joint and some solo engagements.
Their itinerary ended at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Keep reading to see the highlights of the day as they unfolded – all times in AEDT.
Graphic: Polly Hanning
5.27pm: A garden visit
King Charles was led on a detailed tour of the Banksia Gardens at Canberra's National Botanic Gardens by Beverly Ardler and Kain Ardler from the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, as well as Dr Rebecca Pirzl.
Wearing dark glasses in the hot Australian sun, the King moved slowly through the display of the iconic Australian plants, asking questions and pointing out particularly interesting examples.
King Charles' final engagement of the day was at the Botanic Gardens. Getty
The Ardlers explained about the significance of banksia species to their community and how bushfires affect local ecosystems.
The botanic gardens display is the largest collection of Australian plants in the world.
The King was met at the entrance to the Banksia Gardens by Australian mining mandate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, with whom he spoke at length.
On his way out, he was met by students from Ainslie School.
Leo Turner, 12, asked the King if he'd heard of AFL.
"Yes, I've heard of it," the King said.
A beautiful photo of the royal couple as they toured the Botanic Gardens. Getty
"What's your favourite sport?" Leo asked.
"I can't do much now. Too many injuries. I used to sit on a horse," the King replied, before saying goodbye.
- With pool reporters
5.05pm: Solo engagements
The King with members of the ACT Rural Fire Service during his visit to the National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory located at CSIRO Black Mountain. Getty
The King and Queen have undertaken two solo engagements to wrap up their Canberra schedule.
Charles visited the CSIRO's National Bushfire Behaviour Research Laboratory, viewing a "Pyrotron" demonstration.
Meanwhile, Camilla met with Juliette Wright, the founder of charity platform GIVIT, which is one of the Queen's patronages and an organisation she has personally supported.
She also met with volunteers and beneficiaries of the charity.
Queen Camilla with GIVIT staff and volunteer, outside the Banksia Centre at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Getty
4.50pm: Green thumbs
King Charles has always been something of a green thumb, and now he's put it to good use in Canberra.
READ MORE: King Charles and Queen Camilla meet the public in Sydney
King Charles, quite the green thumb, has planted a gum tree. Getty
The monarch shook the tree as a mark of good luck during the ceremony. Getty
The monarch and Queen Camilla have planted two snow gum eucalyptus trees while visiting Government House.
The monarch shook the tree as a mark of good luck during the ceremony, while Camilla dug up dirt to help plant it.
A crowd of school children watched on during the ceremony and the royal couple greeted them before heading off to their next engagement.
Queen Camilla also assisted in planting a tree. Getty
4.15pm: Inside Queen Camilla's solo engagement
Queen Camilla has embarked on a solo engagement after departing Parliament House with the King earlier this afternoon.
Dressed in a new blue dress, Her Majesty sat down with domestic violence activists including survivor and author Rosie Batty, author Jess Hill, feminist activist Dr Anne Summers, AFL's Tanya Hosch and children's book author Connor Pall.
Queen Camilla during her solo engagement, discussing family and domestic violence in Australia. Getty
Getty
The group discussed family and domestic violence in Australia.
Domestic violence is a subject close to Camilla's heart and the Queen heard about work being done to combat the violence epidemic in Australia.
Meanwhile, King Charles left Camilla for a visit to the CSIRO National Bushfire Research Laboratory in Canberra.
2.45pm: Queen Camilla leaves for solo engagement
The Queen has headed to a special solo engagement: a discussion on family and domestic violence in Australia.
She was seen chatting with members of the public outside Parliament House before departing for the event.
Queen Camilla meets members of the public during a walk about outside Parliament House. Chris Jackson/Getty
While his wife attends that discussion, King Charles will receive the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition at Government House.
Later this afternoon they're expected to visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
2.15pm: Reception interrupted
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe disrupted proceedings at Parliament House, shouting across the Great Hall as His Majesty finished his speech.
Senator Lidia Thorpe protests after King's speech. Nine
She cried that Australia was "not your land" and demanded "give us our land back".
She appeared to be escorted out of the hall by security.
The King and Queen did not appear to react to Thorpe's outcry and were seen speaking with Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon in the aftermath.
2pm: The King's address
His Majesty delivered a speech about the significance of this royal visit and his decades-long connection to Australia, among other key topics.
Touching on his time at a school in Victoria in his youth, the King said: "All I can say is I arrived as an adolescent and left as more rounded and not even somewhat chiselled character once I had contended with brown snakes, leeches, funnel-web spiders and bull ants, and - bearing in mind this was very nearly 60 years ago - been given certain unmentionable parts of a bull calf to eat from a branding farm from outback Queensland.
"So it was, therefore, that my own bond with Australia was formed early on."
King Charles delivers a speech at Parliament House in Canberra. Nine
The King paid his respects to First Nations people, touched on the COVID-19 pandemic, and mentioned the cost of living crisis during his lengthy address.
A protester could be heard shouting in the room as he wrapped up, though the King and Queen appeared unbothered.
1.40pm: A special reception
Charles and Camilla are being honoured with a special reception at Parliament House, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave a speech about the significance of their visit.
"Since your first visit in 1966, you have been taken into Australian hearts, just as you have taken us into yours," he said to the King.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla sign the Visitors Books at Parliament House. Chris Jackson/Getty
"You have known the great natural beauty of this continent in all its challenge, and all its reward. You have known the warmth, strength and humour of our people, and what has grown out of your appreciation of all of this is an affection that flows both ways."
The PM thanked His Majesty for his charitable work, reflected on the late Queen Elizabeth II's connection to Australia, and even touched on his experience at the coronation in 2023.
"Your Majesties are very welcome here, and on behalf of all Australians, we wish you an absolutely splendid stay," he concluded.
1.10pm: Prime Minister welcomes royals
The Prime Minister greeted the King and Queen with a handshake and a warm smile at Parliament House.
King Charles III inspects members of the Australian Defence Force during a welcome ceremony. Toby Melville-Pool/Getty
He and fiancée Jodie Haydon hosted a special Parliamentary Reception for the couple, after which Their Majesties are set to meet more members of the public outside Parliament House.
But first, the royals received a ceremonial welcome consisting of a 21-gun salute and a demonstration from the Federation Guard.
King Charles III inspected members of the ADF and spent time speaking with some of the Navy, Army and Air Force personnel gathered to mark his arrival.
His Majesty chatted with some of the gathered ADF personnel. Toby Melville-Pool/Getty
12.40pm: Meeting the public
Their Majesties greeted members of the public outside the War Memorial after a brief visit to lay a wreath, pay their respects and sign the visitor's book.
Royal enthusiasts waited hours just to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen, who were all smiles as they moved along the lines of people eager to greet them in the Canberra sun.
The King greets members of the public outside the War Memorial. Nine
Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter told Today that connecting with members of the public is something Charles and Camilla are "very good at".
"When he used to come as prince, he was so personable, he'd have a lot of chat with people as he passed by," she said of His Majesty.
"That's what he was doing yesterday, although to some degree more formal ... he was making jokes. He's got quite a strong sense of humour."
Arbiter told Today that connecting with members of the public is something Charles and Camilla are "very good at". Lisa Maree Williams/Getty
She also revealed that one of the royals' bodyguards was urging people to put their phones away when meeting the King and Queen.
"Interestingly, that bloke tells people to put their phones down, so they're not right in the King's face," Arbiter said.
"The security guard is telling them to enjoy the moment and put the phones down."
One of the royals' bodyguards was urging people to put their phones away. AP Photo/Mark Baker
She said it was a nice touch, as it allowed the King and Queen to really connect with the people they meet, rather than having to face a wall of phones trained on them.
"While people want to capture that moment, it's SO much nicer to have the face-to-face contact," Arbiter explained.
"Certainly members of the royal family, they recognise that cell phones are a huge part of today's society, but they'd much rather be able to look they'd much rather be able to look the person in the eye as opposed to a screen and really connect in that moment."
"The security guard is telling them to enjoy the moment and put the phones down." AP Photo/Mark Baker
12.20pm: Arrive at the War Memorial
The King and Queen arrived at the War Memorial, where they paid tribute to Australian service men and women past and present.
They lay a wreath and signed the visitor's book during their short visit, which Arbiter said carried deep meaning for the couple.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Australian War Memorial. Mark Baker-Pool/Getty
A visitor's book bearing the signatures of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Brook Mitchell/Getty
"The King and Queen will be very keen to honour Australia's war dead," she said, explaining that the British royal family have a long history of military service.
"They're there in their capacity as head of the armed forces, so it is incredibly important to acknowledge the sacrifice made by men and women, whether they're serving overseas, deployed, whether they have fought in the past, or whether they're serving here at home but making sacrifices by being away from their family."
"The King and Queen will be very keen to honour Australia's war dead." Getty
Arbiter also touched on His Majesty's connection to Australia, having visited on several royal tours before, as well as studying Down Under in 1966.
"It's his 17th visit here. His first was an unofficial visit in 1966, he attended two terms at Geelong Grammar School," she said.
"He says it's a time filled with happy memories. Those happy memories have informed the affection he really feels for Australia today."
11.45am: The King and Queen touch down
Their Majesties touched down in Canberra just before midday, the sun shining down as they stepped off the plane in Australia's capital.
King Charles III was dressed in a navy suit with his many military medals pinned to his chest, while Queen Camilla was wearing a long white Anna Valentine dress with a matching clutch.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for a visit in Canberra at an Defence Establishment Fairbairn on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King's visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa will be his first as head of the Commonwealth. Tracey Nearmy/Getty
Camilla also appeared to be wearing the Queen Mother's scallop-shell brooch, which was originally bequeathed to her by Winifred Hope.
It then passed into the collection of Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it many times throughout her long reign, including at the wedding of Zara and Mike Tindall in 2011. After her death, it passed to Camilla.
She and the King were greeted by waiting dignitaries and are about to head to the War Memorial, where huge crowds wait in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the royals.
Australians wait outside the War Memorial for a glimpse of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Nine
Our reporter on the ground estimated there were already close to 1000 members of the public gathered outside the War Memorial by 11.30am.
11am: A special surprise
One Canberra family was hoping for a royal encounter, and came prepared with flowers from their own garden.
Given the King's own love of gardening, we're sure he'd appreciate the gesture!
This Canberra family brought flowers from their own garden for the royals. April Glover/Supplied
Here's Caroline and Peter, who were also out in the sunshine to meet the royals.
"I feel a lot of love from Charles, and I love him. You don't feel that from politicians," Caroline says.
"I feel a lot of love from Charles," Caroline, left, told 9honey. April Glover/Supplied
Other photos of the crowds showed school children dressed in their summer uniforms waving Australian flags as they waited for the royals to arrive.
One little girl was spotted holding a neon pink sign with four sweet words emblazoned on it in bold black letters: "I practiced my curtsey".
School children dressed in their summer uniforms waving Australian flags as they waited. Chris Jackson/Getty
One little girl had practiced her curtsey for the occasion, according to the pink sign she held. Chris Jackson/Getty
There were some eye-catching outfits the the crowd, including one young man dressed in a blazer covered in the Union Jack and a plastic crown.
A royal supporter stands in line to get in to Australian War Memorial. AP Photo/Mark Baker, Pool
Another onlooker arrived at the War Memorial with an unlikely plus-one: an alpaca.
The royal supporter had even dressed his four-legged friend up in a mini tuxedo for the occasion, a gesture the King and Queen are sure to appreciate.
A royal supporter stands in line with his alpaca. AP Photo/Mark Baker, Pool
10.45am: Fans await the royals
Canberrans were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the King and Queen.
Dallas from the Monarchist League tells April Glover, 9honey's reporter on the ground, that everyone had "underestimated" how much Canberra loves the King and Queen.
Dallas from the Monarchist League is among the royal fans lining up to see Charles and Camilla. April Glover/Supplied
This isn't his first royal rodeo; he was also present for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Canberra for the opening of new Parliament House in 1988.
One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, even chucked a sickie from work in order to catch a glimpse of the royals.
Her dedication to the cause was clear – check out this tattoo in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth:
One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, chucked a sickie from work in order to catch a glimpse of the royals. April Glover/Supplied
And here's Anne, who also had a previous royal encounter. She was in the crowd of school kids in 1954 when Queen Elizabeth II came to St Leonards.
"I've watched Charles grow up," she tells 9honey.
Anne was in the crowd of school kids in 1954 when Queen Elizabeth II came to St Leonards. April Glover/Supplied
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