King Charles III Australian tour: Senator Lidia Thorpe’s rant mars warm Canberra reception

A shouting senator, a sneezing alpaca and a fiery science demonstration made King Charles’ first visit to Canberra as monarch a lively day.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe stole centre stage during the formal reception at Parliament House as she marched through the crowd in the Great Hall berating the King at the top of her voice.

The King had just finished a speech canvassing the Australian spirit, natural disasters, leeches and the “hauntingly evocative cries” of native birds when Senator Thorpe launched into an extraordinary spray.

“Give us what you stole from us, our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land,” the Indigenous senator shouted.

“Give us a treaty, we want a treaty in this country. You are a genocidalist, this is not your land. This is not your land. You are not my king, you are not our king.”

King Charles turned to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and talked quietly on the podium as security moved to prevent Senator Thorpe from approaching the monarch.

She continued on her tirade as she was escorted out of the room by security staff, finishing with “F... the colony.”

Earlier in the day, Senator Thorpe was nearly arrested at a separate protest outside the War Memorial. She was a guest at the parliamentary event as an elected Victorian senator.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who attended the reception, expressed his dismay at “unfortunate political exhibitionism”.

It showed the warm welcomes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton spoke of in their earlier speeches were not shared by all.

“Australians have long felt that the warmth your mother felt for this country is a warmth that thrives in your own heart,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Dutton joked: “People have had haircuts, people have shined shoes, suits have been pressed — and that’s just the republicans.”

A handful of anti-monarchy protesters were also gathered outside the building but far outnumbered by the 500 people lined up for a chance to greet the King and Queen Camilla.

Some clutched flowers while others waved Australian flags. A couple of rows of Union Jack bunting adorned some of the barriers along with a poster reading: “Welcome home Your Majesty”.

After standing for several hours in the heat, some were disappointed after the royal couple only made their way less than halfway along the rope lines.

King Charles wore gold aviator sunglasses as he thanked visitors for braving the Australian sunshine, joked about having gin and tonics with one woman and receiving flowers from others.

Earlier at the Australian War Memorial, more than 1000 people, several dogs and an alpaca wearing a crown waited to greet their Majesties, belting out several renditions of God Save the King to pass the time.

War Memorial council chair Kim Beazley welcomed the couple, before guiding them to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier before a rendition of the Last Post.

Queen Camilla wore a white silk crepe court dress by Anna Valentine; a diamond and pearl brooch worn previously by Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.

Charles wore a blue suit with medals pinned to his chest on the left.

The crowd included Fremantle-based Cliff Chapman, sporting a kilt and a seal-skin sporran.

He was on holiday and decided to stand in the Canberra sunshine to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen.

Asked why he was the only person in the crowd wearing a kilt, he said: “I thought it would stand out a bit.”

Another creature to stand out was Hephner the alpaca, well known in Canberra for his charity work.

King Charles seemed surprised to find himself eye-level with the animal – and even more so when the alpaca sneezed on him.

Indigenous culture was woven through the day – aside from the protests – with several greetings by local elders and a choir singing the national anthem in English and Ngunnawal.

At the Australian Botanic Gardens where King Charles was led on a detailed tour of the banksia gardens by Beverly and Kain Ardler from the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community.

Mining magnate mining mandate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest met him at the entrance to the Banksia Gardens, where they spoke at length and again before leaving.

Mr Forrest’s FFI is part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative which the King founded five years ago.

Queen Camilla – who changed into a blue and white dress by UK designer Fiona Clare following the formal reception – met the founder of charity platform GIVIT, Juliette Wright, after having interacted with the small group for several years.

“I’m so glad I’ve been able to see you in person not just looking at you on a screen. It’s never the same as face-to-face,” the Queen said, adding that she hoped the publicity she could bring would increase donations.

Local school students spoke about native seed pods, the updated Great Seal seal was handed over, three trees were planted and bushfire science was demonstrated.

Finally, the royal couple found a few moments of peace in the Botanic Gardens’ cool and quiet rainforest gully before heading to the airport to return to Sydney for their final day of events.