<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>331476</docID> <postdate>2024-10-21 14:22:15</postdate> <headline>Royal fans and an alpaca flock to greet King and Queen</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-331477" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241021180249717100-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The King had a chat with the owner of an alpaca after laying a wreath at the War Memorial. (Mark Baker/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p>By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> and <strong>Caitlin Powell</strong></p> <p><strong>Hundreds of well-wishers and an alpaca have showered King Charles and Queen Camilla with their support on the latest leg of the royals' Australian tour.</strong></p> <p>Canberrans thronged the Australian War Memorial to catch a glimpse of the royal couple after jetting into the nation's capital from Sydney on Monday.</p> <p>Loud cheers and renditions of God Save the King from several hundred onlookers greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla as they drove into view along Anzac Parade.</p> <p>The pair privately paid their respects at the Australian War Memorial commemorative area, laying a wreath and floral tribute before moving to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial, For Our Country.</p> <p>The ACT heat was too much for some royal watchers.</p> <p>An ambulance crew was called to help an elderly woman who was feeling unwell while in prize position in line to meet the royal couple.</p> <p>King Charles, sporting a navy suit and a bevy of military medals, and Queen Camilla, in her white silk dress, spent more than 30 minutes shaking hands and chatting with the gathered onlookers – some wearing commemorative crowns, others offering bouquets of flowers.</p> <p>Among those on hand to welcome their Majesties was 94-year-old Evelyn Botha who as a schoolgirl 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.</p> <p>Another in the crowd was Fremantle-based Cliff Chapman.</p> <p>Sporting a kilt and a seal-skin sporran, Mr Chapman said he was on holiday and decided to stand in the Canberra sunshine to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen.</p> <p>Asked why he was the only person in the crowd wearing a kilt, he said: "I thought it would stand out a bit."</p> <p>Dressed in a suit and crown, Hephner the alpaca also got his opportunity to welcome the King and appeared to sneeze on the 75-year-old as he came in for a pat.</p> <p>Well away from the official proceedings and under the watchful eye of police, a group of a dozen or so indigenous protesters started up chants of "always was, always will be Aboriginal land".</p> <p>Next on their itinerary is a ceremonial welcome for the royal couple hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House.</p> <p>There, they will meet more members of the public before going their separate ways.</p> <p>The Queen will attend a discussion on family and domestic violence while the King will receive Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the prime minister, before reconvening to plant a tree at Government House.</p> <p>The royals arrived in Sydney on Friday night and spent the following day resting before a series of official events began, their itinerary shaved down due to the King's health.</p> <p>Addressing a crowd at NSW Parliament House on Sunday to mark the 200th anniversary of the Legislative Council, the King spoke of the "great joy" he felt in coming to Australia for the first time as sovereign.</p> <p>Before the speech, the King and Queen Camilla attended St Thomas' Anglican Church, where crowds gathered hoping to see them, as well as protesters.</p> <p>The royals will return to Sydney on Tuesday where they will meet more members of the public and attend a naval fleet review on the Admiral Hudson vessel.</p> <p>Following the five-day tour of Australia, they will travel to Samoa where the King will open the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><em>- with pool reporters</em></p> </body>