King Charles, Queen Camilla visit Australian War Memorial in Canberra

Thousands of “star-struck” onlookers — and even a sneezing alpaca — greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

At their first function on a one-day visit to Canberra, the King and Queen also heard several renditions of God Save the King from an at-times passionate crowd on the memorial’s lawns.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were welcomed to the memorial by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Australian War Memorial Council chair, Kim Beazley.

They laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier before a rendition of the Last Post.

Charles again went off script and walked over to the public, shaking hands with hundreds of Australians who shared greetings, and well wishes for the monarch.

The royal couple then spent more than 30 minutes talking to the gathered crowd.

Among those on hand to welcome their Majesties was 94-year-old Evelyn Botha who as a school girl presented a bouquet of roses to Princess Margaret - the King’s aunt - during a visit to her homeland of Scotland. A few years later, Evelyn’s sister Olga presented a similar bouquet to the then Princess Elizabeth.

Evelyn, born in the Scottish town of Perth, has only been in Australia for four months. She had been in Queensland until Saturday, flying down to see the King and Queen before moving to nearby Goulburn.

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

Wearing his own small crown, King Charles seemed surprised to be at eye-level with the white 9-year-old animal.

The King made a beeline for an alpaca but drew back from patting the animal as it sneezed on him.

“I’m never going to wash my hand,” shouted one member of the crowd who had managed to shake hands with the King.

Cliff Chapman from Fremantle flew across the country to see the royal pair.

Waving a Commonwealth and WA flag and dressed in a kilt to honour his Scottish heritage, Mr Chapman said he was happy they had made the effort to come to Australia.

“If I get the chance to speak to the King, I’ll say ‘welcome home’ because he owns the place,” he said.

Before the royal couple arrived, a group of about two dozen Indigenous protesters started chants outside the Australian War Memorial.

Chanting “always was, always will be Aboriginal land” the group was situated away from where their Majesties eventually appeared.

About two dozen police are on hand to protestors stay in a designated area, away from the several hundred people who have gathered to catch a glimpse of the royals.

More to come...