Royal news live: King Charles drinks narcotic kava tea in Samoa ceremony ahead of slavery reparations debate

The royal family has been regularly touring and visiting Australia since the late 19th century, with the country playing host to several key moments in their history.

In the wake of King Charles‘s first official tour of Australia as monarch, The Independent takes a look back at the most memorable royal tours in recent history.

Queen Camilla took the opportunity on the royal tour to put the eyes of the world on a community project helping Australians experiencing food insecurity.

As a patron of UK Harvest, she visited its Australian counterpart, Oz Harvest, where efforts are being made to help those facing hunger and reduce food waste.

King Charles learned about new technology being developed to tackle bushfires on the second day of his Australian tour.

A post on the official royal family Twitter/X account read: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, is undertaking research, developing models and testing equipment, to study the spread of bushfires under a range of weather conditions.

“The King watched demonstrations and spoke to firefighters about their experience using newly developed equipment, thanks to CSIRO’s studies.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s packed schedule of engagements on their royal tour of Australia also saw the queen consort recognise the achievements of young, Australian writers.

A post on the official royal family Twitter/X account said: “At Green Square Library, Her Majesty spent time with talented young Australians taking part in workshops with authors, before meeting past winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (@RoyalCWSociety).”

Royal fans who had the opportunity to meet and glimpse King Charles and Queen Camilla on the second day of their Australian tour have praised the “historic occasion”.

The couple took the opportunity to greet their many well-wishers outside Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, where the king gave a poignant speech about his experience of Australia and vision for its future.

Kathy Carter and her family, who made “We love you” signs” said: “We would have sat here for another two hours. It’s the pomp and ceremony ... but on the other hand, they’re so realistic and down to earth.”

Dressed in a Union Jack-covered jacket, royal fan Serena added: “It’s a historic occasion.”

The second day of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s ongoing tour also saw the couple visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra.

The King not only inspected the plants on display but took the opportunity to plant a tree of his own, a water gum, which he requested to see again once it is a little bigger.

An Indigenous man was arrested near the Sydney Opera House today as he protested the ongoing royal visit.

Wayne “Coco” Wharton encouraged the crowd of well-wishers to leave Australia with the King.

“Go home with the King,” he said. “He is a King of thieves and a King of liars. You have no receipt, you have no agreement on the occupation of this country. You are a nation of thieves. You’re guilty.”

Following his arrest, the crowd cheered.

As he was being led away by authorities, Mr Wharton added: “What gives you the right to do this? These systems, these police, they create this environment. This King of England has the power to sack the prime minister, why doesn’t have the power to fix the wrongs he has done?”

Police told the protestor that the hundreds-strong crowd was there “for a nice peaceful day.”

According to Mr Wharton’s daughter, Nellie Pollard-Wharton, he was attempting to issue an arrest notice for King Charles because of the historic treatment of Australia’s aboriginal people.

King Charles was pictured embracing a member of Australia’s “stolen generation”, Uncle James Michael ‘Widdy’ Welsh.

The monarch, 75, simply said “Hugs are good” as he embraced Mr Welsh at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Sydney on the third day of his tour. The surprise embrace came after Mr Welsh admitted that he does not like handshakes.

Mr Welsh, 72, was taken from his family when he was just eight years old and placed in the Kinchela boys home, where he was given the number 36.

The so-called stolen generation were systematically removed from their families in a bid to eradicate Indigenous culture. The policy came to an end in 1970.

Mr Welsh said: “It was good he was there and he appreciated the hug as he hugged me back. I had a really good feeling about him. I got the feeling he is somebody who genuinely cares.

“I wouldn’t mind sitting down and having a yarn with him, to be honest, and tell him everything that has happened and how to help the children coming up for a better future.”