Join HELLO! as we give you all the details of King Charles and Queen Camilla's historic Australian tour. Our Royal reporter Tracy Schaverien will be on the ground Down Under sharing all the best moments from the special trip.
King Charles and Queen Camilla kick of historic Australia tour with personal message
The King and Queen have praised Australia’s "extraordinarily rich cultures and communities" just hours before the start of their landmark tour of the country.
The King flew commercially from the UK to Singapore without his wife with whom he reunited in Singapore. From there, the royal couple boarded a private flight onward to Australia.
Sharing their excitement for the upcoming tour, the King and Queen to their official X account, writing: "Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special. See you there!"
The message was accompanied with archive footage of previous royal tours, including the late Queen’s first visit in 1954.
The six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney will be Charles’s first to a realm – countries where he is head of state – since he became monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The King and Queen will later travel to Samoa for a three-day state visit and meet world leaders taking part in a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which Charles will formally open.
Greeted by a royal superfan
Australia rolled out the red carpet for the King and Queen as they arrived in Sydney to start their historic royal tour Down Under.
© Chris JacksonAs the couple touched down in the surprisingly rainy city the iconic Opera House lit up with a photomontage of previous royal visits, projected onto its sails and visible from around the harbour.
HELLO! joined Their Majesties as they began their week-long tour of Australia and Samoa, which kicked off with an official welcome at the airport.
© SAEED KHANEmerging down the steps of the plane, the smiling couple looked cheerful after their flight and were greeted by dignitaries including Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese, Australian Governor General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales premiere Chris Minns.
© Chris JacksonBefore leaving the airport for tea at Admiralty House with the PM and his partner Jodie Haydon, Camilla was presented with a posy by 12-year-old Ky, from Adelaide, whose wish to meet the King and Queen was being granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was accompanied by his sister Charlotte.
A rainy arrival
After a heavy shower, the rain had almost stopped when Their Majesties landed in a Royal Australian Air Force plane.
© Chris JacksonThe King, in a suit and tie, stepped out first, carrying a large black umbrella, followed by the Queen, who had her umbrella up. As they walked down the steps His Majesty turned a few times to check on his wife.
© Brook MitchellAfter shaking hands with the dignitaries who had lined up to greet them they were whisked away in waiting cars to have tea with the Australian Prime Minister.
Shaking hands with the PM
Charles and Camilla enjoyed tea with the Australian Prime Minister and his partner, Jodie Haydon at the Governor General's residence, Admiralty House.
The royal couple were all smiles as they posed for photos with the pair.
From the location, Charles and Camilla had the perfect view of the Sydney Opera House where the could see images of themselves projected.
What's next?
Over the next six days we will be sharing all the best updates live from Down Under. Keep an eye on HELLO! for all the royal coverage.
A Royal Opera House welcome
As the couple touched down in the city the iconic Opera House lit up with a photomontage of previous royal visits, projected onto its sails and visible from around the harbour. See a video of the special moment below.
The 4-minute light show included pictures of the King in Australia as a young Prince of Wales - one of him playing cricket - and more recently with his wife when she was Duchess of Cornwall.
© Chris JacksonThe Opera House is visible from Admiralty House, the Governor General’s residence, where Charles and Camilla are having tea with the PM.
© Chris Jacksonthe couple have a busy schedule, which is due to begin on Sunday with a series of engagements in Sydney, including a church service, a reception at Parliament House and an audience with the Governor General – the Monarch's representative in Australia.
© Don Arnold
