King Charles and Queen Camilla have appeared in public for the first time in Australia, warmly greeting well-wishers as they attended a church service.
The royal couple was welcomed on Oct. 20 by a large crowd outside St Thomasâ Anglican Church in northern Sydney.
Children waving Australian flags cheered and shook hands with the King and Queen as they made their way to the church entrance.
Queen Camilla, dressed in a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, received flowers from the church ministerâs wife, Ellie Mantle, upon entering the church.
Once inside, the royal couple basked in sunlight streaming through the door and stained-glass windows.
Excited whispers filled the room as dozens of phones captured the moment.
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Despite being the guests of honor, the Sunday service was primarily for the local congregation.
Only a select few dignitaries were in attendance, including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley.
Protesters gathered outside the church, displaying banners with messages such as âEmpire Built on Genocideâ and âDecolonise,â as well as waving Aboriginal and Lebanese flags.
Demonstrators hold a banner saying “decolonise” as they wait for the arrival of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to attend a Sunday morning service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 20, 2024. Dean Lewins-Pool/Getty Images
Bishop Christopher Edwards led a prayer, requesting protection for the King and Queen and expressing hope for a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
He also prayed for global peace and an end to conflicts during a service that included hymns, prayers, and readings from the Old and New Testaments.
The churchâs minister, Michael Mantle, thanked the King and Queen for attending and described it as an honor to host them.
The Sunday service was steeped in history.
Upon arrival, King Charles passed by the church’s cornerstone unveiled in 1881 by his great-grandfather, King George V.
King Charles and Queen Camilla signed two bibles with black pens, including one that belonged to Australiaâs first minister, Richard Johnson, who also served as the Chaplain on the First Fleet.
As they departed the church, the crowd cheered and many tried to capture a glimpse or photo of the royals.
Among them was Helen Hetrelezis and her brothers, who arrived at the church at 7:45 a.m., nearly three hours before the service.
Their dedication paid off as Hetrelezis had a brief conversation with Queen Camilla after the service.
âWe talked about her visit. I asked the Queen about her stay, and she mentioned she was enjoying Sydney very much,â Hetrelezis shared.
In an impromptu moment, the King and Queen approached the crowds on the other side of the church, with police ensuring their safety.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel expressed delight in having the royal couple at the local service.
âIt has been a wonderful pleasure and privilege,â he remarked.
The royals arrived in Sydney on Friday night and will head to Canberra on Monday for events at the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House.
They will return to Sydney on Tuesday to greet the public at the Sydney Opera House.
The King will then travel to Samoa to open the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
With contributions from a pool reporter.
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