What's happened
King Charles and Queen Camilla are on a six-day tour of Australia, marking the King's first major foreign trip since his cancer diagnosis. Their visit includes engagements with local politicians and church services, amidst rising republican sentiment and protests advocating for Indigenous rights.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, King Charles expressed joy at returning to Australia, stating, 'With the sands of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is to come to Australia for the first time as Sovereign.' Meanwhile, Metro reported on the protests, highlighting that a small group of anti-monarchists called for reparations for Indigenous Australians, with protestor Wayne Wharton stating, 'We are asking King Charles respectfully to begin the process of decolonisation.' This contrast illustrates the dual nature of the visit, celebrating royal ties while confronting historical injustices.
How we got here
This visit follows King Charles's previous engagements in Australia, including his time as a student in 1966. The trip occurs against a backdrop of increasing calls for decolonization and reparations for Indigenous Australians.
More on these topics
-
New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave
-
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
-
Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent to the British throne as the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II. He has been Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952, and he is the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history.