As if to underline the fact that this has been a People’s Tour for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, it wasn’t until their final few hours on Australian soil that the couple got to meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott.
Prior to a Diamond Jubilee luncheon at Canberra’s Government House hosted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Julia and Tony both got the chance to sit down in the drawing room and individually meet the Prince.
While the Prime Minister, in a stunning ice blue Carla Zampatti dress and jacket, was her usual polite and respectful self, Tony Abbott could hardly contain his glee saying “It is a real thrill to meet you” while heartily shaking the Prince’s hand.
At the ensuing reception in a marquee in the House’s Grounds an impressive list of guests included former PM John Howard and his wife Janette, The Weekly’s Jennifer Byrne, Olympic Gold medalists Alicia Coutts, Malcolm Page, Susan Powell, and Murray Stewart, Captain of the Wallabies James Horwill, Nine Network’s Peter Overton and his wife TV presenter Jessica Rowe, former Justice of the High Court Michael Kirby and many more.
Following a warm welcome from the Governor-General, Prince Charles stepped up to the lectern for his final speech on the tour and one which was completely unscripted.
He said that he and his wife would leave Australia with “great sadness” and paid tribute to the many volunteers and community workers he has met over the past six days.
“These are the people of course who provide a glue to such a, I think, diverse and energetic and determined society. And from that point of view it has been a real joy for my wife and I to help celebrate that wonderful aspect of society in Australia. To pay a tribute to all these marvellous people, and to just thank them for all they do to make Australia such a very special place.”
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