A statue of Queen Victoria in Sydney has been defaced with red paint just hours before King Charles and Queen Camilla undertake a public walkabout in the city.
Police are investigating who was responsible for vandalising the historic monument outside the Queen Victoria Building overnight in what is believed to be a protest at the royal visit.
Charles, 75, and Camilla, 77, will undertake the biggest public meet and greet of their six-day visit to Australia later today with huge crowds expected at Sydney Opera House.
Thousands of well-wishers are expected to turn out to meet them at the iconic venue, in addition to the bigger than expected crowds who have lined every public moment of their tour.
It comes as the fall-out by a dramatic public protest by notorious firebrand senator and indigenous campaigner Lidia Thorpe continued to dominate headlines both in Australia and the UK.
The iconic statue of Queen Victoria, located outside the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s CBD, was defaced with red paint as King Charles tours Australia
The incident, which took place in the Australian Parliament Building on Monday, saw Thorpe scream obscenities at the king and try to hand him a notice of responsibility for ‘Aboriginal genocide’.
But the senator, who has a reputation for public disorder, has been roundly condemned even by Australians.
Nova Peris, a former senator and the first Aboriginal woman in the Australian Parliament, said the ‘outburst’ ‘does not reflect all of Aboriginal Australia’.
She wrote on X: ‘I am deeply disappointed by the actions of Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe during King Charles III’s visit to Parliament House. Her outburst, which disrupted what should have been a respectful event, was both embarrassing and disrespectful to our nation and the Royal Family.’
She argued that Thorpe herself affirmed allegiance to the Crown during her swearing-in ceremony.
‘This is a reminder that, regardless of personal beliefs, respecting our nation’s constitutional framework is essential, especially as an elected representative,’ she said.
Ms Peris said that while she herself supports Australia becoming a republic and formerly co-chaired the Australian Republican Movement, it was ‘crucial to acknowledge that such decisions are for the Australian people to make through democratic means—not through rude interruptions or public outbursts’.
She added: ‘Senator Thorpe’s actions today do not reflect the manners, or approach to reconciliation, of Aboriginal Australians at large. They reflect only her, and it is important to clarify that the vast majority of us would not engage in this unconstructive confrontational way.
‘I would like to extend my sincere apologies to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on behalf of all those who value mutual respect and the dignity of our nation.
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Australian Parliament House for Ceremonial Welcome and Parliamentary Reception on MondayÂ
‘When King Charles visited Yolngu Country in 2018, he was welcomed with great respect and warmth by the traditional owners of the land, who honoured him with a traditional ceremony. That moment exemplified the kind of engagement we need—one where respect is earned and given in equal measure.
‘Aboriginal Australia values these opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding. We are a proud people, deeply connected to our history, but we also recognise the importance of moving forward together as a unified nation.
‘Lidia Thorpe’s actions today do not reflect all of our people’s views or values. I hope King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue to visit and engage with communities across Australia, where they are welcomed with respect and dignity.’
Today the couple will embark on a packed day of engagements including a visit by the King to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NICE) where he will take part in a traditional ‘smoking’ ceremony of welcome.
He and the Queen will also attend a barbecue in western Sydney where is hoped they will try a traditional ‘Sanger’ – a sandwich.
Restauranteur Jad Nehmetallah is not only preparing traditional ‘barbie’ fare but also lamb sausage with smoked labneh, zhoug, herbs, pickled onions and sumac on freshly baked pitta bread.
‘It’s very culturally diverse here in Parramatta and for us to be able to showcase something off our menu, it is quite humbling,’ he told the Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
New South Wales Police told the Mail: ‘About 5.30am today (Tuesday 22 October 2024), police were called to Queen Victoria Building, Market Street, Sydney CBD, following reports a statue had been vandalised.
‘Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command have established a crime scene and an investigation has commenced.
‘As inquiries continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.’
In Australia, Charles was welcomed by elders at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence including those from the Sydney region and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
He was met by an elder Allan Murray from the Metropolitan local Aboriginal land council who said: ‘Welcome to country. We’ve got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday in Canberra but the story is unwavering and we’ve got a long way to achieve what we want to achieve and that’s our own sovereignty. But welcome to Gadigal land.’
Charles nodded as Allan spoke. Alan welcomed him to the centre and said: ‘We are proud sovereign people.’Â
Another pulled out a lighter to start the smoking ceremony.
The King said: ‘I was out in the Bush in Victoria in 1966 trying to get the fire going was a problem because we didn’t have one of those.’
He wafted the smoke which signifies a welcome to indigenous land.
The King was met by Ms Jody Broun, the CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and Leon Donovan, Regional Manager, NSW and ACT National Indigenous Australians Agency,
He also gathered at the outdoor fire pit for a moving traditional smoking ceremony with members of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
And met Aunty-in-Residence NCIE and Local Aboriginal Elder, ‘Aunty’ Beryl Van Opploo who demonstrated traditional food preparation techniques.
Speaking about the protest in Parliament, Beryl said: ‘Everybody has choices but I come from a different era.
‘Personally, I grew up with it and I’ve lived it. We did used to protest and did all when I was younger but not in a mean way.
‘People have choices and I’ve been brought up by my elders with respect.’
In the sports hall, The King was impressed with a dance performance from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers.
Greeting the dancers afterwards, he said tried jumping the air himself and said: ‘That looked like a good exercise. I don’t think I can still do it at my age.’
He also spoke to Gamay Rangers and members of the Inner City Empowered Communities Group, which provides services to the local First Nations communities in Sydney.
And spoke privately with a number of First Nations Elders.
The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) is a not-for-profit social enterprise, building solid foundations and solid futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Founded in 2006, NCIE aims to build capability and create opportunities with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. NCIE’s programmes, services and enterprises are designed with the sole purpose of creating long-term improvements in wellbeing.
The Queen was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon, as she helped serve professional chef-standard food to vulnerable customers.
The Queen sprinkled herbs and edible flowers on lunch at Refettorio OzHarvest in Sydney, which rescues food that would otherwise be thrown away to create restaurant-quality dishes for those in need.
The Queen called it a ‘wonderful idea’ and ‘incredible’, as she entered the kitchen to take instructions from the chefs.
Founder Ronni Khan told her that the cafe was designed to ‘not just feed the belly but to feed the soul’.
After helping to make the lunch, asking chefs about the ingredients, she sat at a long table to join clients for a meal.
Locals can be referred to the cafe, come with the assistance of charities, or book, eat a three-course meal at the cafe for free. It is funded by donations and a Thursday night $80 meal, which helps pay for meals for the rest of the week.
The Queen also met staff and volunteers, exclaiming ‘one man!’ as she met the lone male who joked he was the ‘best barista’.
‘What brought you here?’ she asked team members, wondering whether it was in part ‘all that delicious food!’
‘Can you tell me what we’re eating?’ she asked one fellow diner, gesturing that she did not have her spectacles on.
It was crispy potato hash with fermented chilli, preserved peperonata, Persian feta, green zhoug, heirloom tomato and house pickles, made from food that would otherwise have been thrown away.
