King Charles III and Queen Camilla laid wreaths at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Monday, then shook hands with well-wishers on the second full day of their visit.
Charles, 75, is being treated for cancer, which has led to a scaled-down itinerary. This is Charles’ 17th trip to Australia and the first since he ascended the throne in 2022. It marks the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II traveled to the distant nation in 2011.
After their arrival, Charles and Camilla rested before making their first public appearance at a church service in Sydney on Sunday. They then flew to Canberra, where they visited the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and attended a reception at Parliament House hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The couple took their time leaving the war memorial to greet hundreds of people who had gathered under clear skies, waving Australian flags. The temperature was forecast to reach a mild high of 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).
Notably, the reception was not attended by the government leaders of all six Australian states, who declined invitations, citing their preference for an Australian citizen as head of state rather than the British monarch.
Albanese has also expressed his preference for Australia to become a republic but has ruled out putting the question to a referendum during his current term.
On Wednesday, Charles will travel to Samoa, where he will open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.