WHAT a right royal triumph!
The first tour of Australia by a reigning British king had threatened to be a damp squib disappointment after days marred by rain, noisy anti-Monarchy protestors, and a series of pathetic political snubs culminating in an idiot attention-seeking senator screaming at Charles about his supposed complicity in committing genocide against Aboriginals.
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Over 10,000 people from across the country greeted the King at Sydney’s iconic Opera HouseCredit: Reuters
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The enthusiasm and excitement for the King and Queen will have delighted the PalaceCredit: AFP
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Australians know a hard-working straight shooter when they see one, says Piers
But the Aussie people didn’t get the royal-bashing memo, and in a stunning outpouring of joyful support, out they came in huge numbers at the iconic Sydney Opera House to pay tribute to King Charles and Queen Camilla on the final day of their short but historic trip.
More than 10,000 people from all over the country appeared in glorious sunshine to greet their royal visitors, far more than had been anticipated, and to be honest, far more than I feared would be the case.
It was the first by a British monarch since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and many doom-sayers assumed that royal popularity would have inevitably plummeted around the world without the late, great rock of the Monarchy.
Especially in Commonwealth countries like Australia where the nasty whiff of republicanism has grown more pungent in recent years.
But as these jubilant crowds proved, they were all spectacularly wrong.
The enthusiasm and excitement for the King and Queen was palpable and will have delighted the Palace.
It was also a brilliant retort to the graceless royal critics who tried to wreck the tour, led by foul-mouthed imbecile Lidia Thorpe, the senator who screamed “YOU’RE NOT MY KING!” and “F*CK THE COLONY!” at Charles during an event in Canberra on Monday.
She also bellowed: “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land.”
And, even worse, her Instagram account posted a sickening image, since deleted, of King Charles being beheaded.
Ironically, Thorpe’s behaviour so repulsed most regular Australians that it’s believed to have helped fuel the large crowds last night, suggesting that the dumb, vile antics of Monarchy-hating republicans does more harm than good to their cause.
There was more good news for the King, too.
The massive public backing for the royals coincided with a new poll showing that Charles is more popular in Australia than their top politicians with 50% saying they approved of how he’s doing his job, compared to just 44% for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and 45% for opposition leader Peter Dutton.
It’s 25 years since the country held a referendum on the Monarchy, one that was widely expected to lead to it being abolished.
But instead, 55% of Australians voted to keep it, and recent polls show that fewer Australians want the country to become a republic than while Queen Elizabeth was alive.
‘Enormous respect’
For his part, King Charles has reiterated the same view of his mother – that it’s a matter for the Australian people whether they want to keep a British monarch as their Head of State or not.
From what we witnessed at Sydney Opera House, I don’t think the King need worry too much about being voted out during his reign.
Australians know a hard-working straight shooter when they see one, and there’s been enormous respect for the way the King, aged 75, paused his cancer treatment to make the long 10,000-mile journey Down Under with his wife.
And for the way he and Queen Camilla, 77, have packed in 27 engagements over three days in two cities.
They’ve looked incredibly happy and proud to be there, and most Australians have looked equally happy and proud to have them there.
All of which makes ME very happy and proud that we have two such brilliant flag-wavers for our country on the world stage.
‘Stronger than ever’
This trip’s spectacular success has served as a timely reminder that the Monarchy remains a massively important rock at the heart of not just the UK but so many other Commonwealth nations like Australia.
And that the best way for senior royals to retain the support and respect of the public is for them to behave in a dignified, dutiful way that puts serving the people above all else.
For all the embarrassing and very damaging shenanigans of Harry and Meghan, and their disgraceful campaign to smear the royals as a bunch of callous racists, the Firm have emerged stronger than ever despite loss of their great Matriarch, and despite the new King and his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales fighting cancer.
After all the ‘Will this be the last royal tour by a British Monarch?’ speculation before Charles and Camilla flew to Australia, it’s such a relief to those of us who believe passionately in the Monarchy to see the complete opposite narrative now emerge as they head home.
Congratulations, Your Majesties!
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Charles and Camilla have looked incredibly happy to be there, and most Australians have looked just as happyCredit: AFP
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The Aussie people didn’t get the royal-bashing memo and gave the royal couple a rapturous receptionCredit: PA
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The trip serves as a timely reminder how the Monarchy remains massively importantCredit: PA
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The behaviour of foul-mouthed heckler Lidia Thorpe repulsed most AustraliansCredit: Reuters
