King Charles III Concludes Marathon 11-Day Tour of Australia and Samoa, Amidst Controversies
King Charles’ First Major Foreign Trip since Cancer Diagnosis
Britain’s King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla left Samoa on Saturday, marking the end of their 11-day tour that included a controversy-tinged stop in their Australian realm. The 75-year-old monarch carried out over 30 events during the tour, his first major foreign trip since his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Royal Couple Visits Sydney, Canberra, and Apia
The royal couple visited Sydney, Canberra, and the Samoan capital Apia, where Charles attended a meeting of Commonwealth nations. The 56-nation bloc, made up mostly of British ex-colonies, had hoped to discuss a future threatened by climate change. However, the meeting was marked by disputes over a troubled past marked by slavery and colonialism.
Charles Jokes about Advancing Years and Jetlag
At a rare night-time engagement on the eve of his departure, Charles joked about his advancing years and the grueling distance many delegates had traveled to reach the South Pacific. "It will be interesting to see this evening who has the most success in battling jetlag," he joked over dinner. He also recalled his first visit to Samoa in 1974, as a young Naval Officer aboard a ship called HMS Jupiter, saying, "Returning 50 years later ‘just shows how unbelievably old I am’."
Controversy in Australia
The tour was not without controversy. Charles was heckled by a lawmaker, independent senator Lidia Thorpe, about the legacy of European settlement on Indigenous peoples. "Give us our land back," she screamed, adding, "This is not your land, you are not my king." She decrying what she said was a "genocide" of Indigenous Australians by European settlers.
Conclusion
The tour will be remembered for its pomp and circumstance, including a glitzy visit to Sydney’s Opera House and a naval fleet review on the city’s sparkling harbour. However, the controversy surrounding the past will likely remain a focal point of debate in the coming days.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the purpose of King Charles’ tour?
- The tour aimed to discuss the future of the Commonwealth, but was marked by controversy over a troubled past.
- How long did the tour last?
- The tour lasted 11 days, with over 30 events carried out by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
- What was the main issue raised during the tour?
- The legacy of European settlement on Indigenous peoples was a major point of contention, with some calling for recognition and redress for past wrongs.