Helicopters were buzzing overhead and His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales’ standard was hoisted high up the flag pole for a quite magical ceremonial welcome on the lawns outside Old Government House in the heart of Brisbane’s Botanical Gardens.
The Australian Federation Guard turned out in their uniforms of crisp white, khaki and blue – all had buttons gleaming and all held rifles with fixed bayonets. They performed an almost balletic salute, men and women side by side to rousing anthems of God Save The Queen, Advance Australia Fair and more, played by the military band.
After signing the visitors’ book inside Old Government House and catching up with the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lady Cosgrove, the Royal couple emerged and the military pomp began in earnest including a 21-gun salute fired from Kangaroo Point. Other notable dignitaries included Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, representing the Prime Minister, and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Prince Charles inspecting the Australian Federation Guard in Brisbane during the first day of his and Camilla’s Australian tour.
The Duchess of Cornwall shaking hands with the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove’s wife, Lynne.
The Prince, in a light grey suit, inspected the troops stopping to chat along the route, while his wife the Duchess of Cornwall in a stunning lace green dress by designer Fiona Clare and matching hat by the Royal’s favourite milliner Philip Treacy watched on, umbrella in hand in case the heavens opened – as they had on those of us in the Royal media corps just before the couple arrived.
The thousands who had gathered in the Gardens to see the future King of England and Australia and his wife were drenched, but it didn’t deter them a jot and all cheered when the Royals arrived.
Prince Charles greeting fans who waited in the rain to catch a glimpse of him and Camilla.
The Queensland rain wasn’t going to deter avid Royal fans from seeing Charles.
The couple had touched down in Brisbane on a RAAF plane at 12:20pm, after spending time visiting friends in Gundagai in country NSW. Tonight they will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwelath Games.
The Prince last opened the Commonwealth Games on behalf of Her Majesty in Delhi in 2010. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also accompanied The Queen to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. And during the Royal visit to Singapore in 2017, Their Royal Highnesses participated in the Baton Relay for these Games, meeting athletes and para athletes who will compete in the Gold Coast. So tonight’s celebrations are really significant for the Royal couple.
Charles visiting Hansali Farm in Chandigargh, India while touring the country for the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Ceremonial duties over, the couple headed out into the crowd.
Flag-waving Noela Fleming, Joan Baumer and Tricia Unwin met today, each hoping to spy the Royal couple. They had been there for four hours and were thrilled when both Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall stopped to say hello.
“I shook both of their hands, ” Noela tells The Weekly. “I’m shaking. The Prince’s hands were chunky. The Duchess’s were soft and delicate. She’s so beautiful and I told her so.”
All three are ardent royalists and are really happy that Prince Charles will be Australia’s King one day, especially now they have met him. “I feel differently about them now I’ve met them, ” says Noela. “They were very approachable and looked really happy together,” added Joan.
Noela, Joan and Tricia couldn’t hide their elation after shaking hands with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwell.
Hayley Lennon, 39, and Rhonda Harper, 72, a mother and daughter from Brisbane, had arrived at around 9:15 in the morning hoping to see Prince Charles and Camilla.
“We are royalists through and through,” says Rhonda.” I saw Prince William and Kate in 2014, and William in 2011 when he came for the floods,” she adds.
“I saw Princess Diana in 1983 and we both saw the Queen in the 90s/2000,” says Rhonda. “Diana was a lovely lady but I am happy for Prince Charles that he has Camilla. They are a good couple. You can see how happy he is with her. There’s a maturity about her. I think Diana was too young for him.”
They shook the hands of both the Prince and the Duchess and said they looked great, better in real life than in photos. “The Duchess looked so pretty. Her green outfit was lovely,” says Rhonda.
Jane – who doesn’t want to disclose her surname because she actually met Prince Charles as a Year 9 girl when he was staying on her neighbour’s property – shook the Prince’s hand, reminded him of their connection and gave the Duchess a bunch of sunflowers she had bought specially.
“Sunflowers instead of the sun,” said the Duchess thrilled with the gift. “They were both really charming,” says Jane.
Waiting for hours in the rain wasn’t going to stop Hayley and Rhonda from missing the opportunity to meet Charles and Camilla.
It was indeed a charm offensive and already behind schedule from taking time out to talk to so many, the royal couple departed for their next stop, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Here, nine-year-old Charlotte Kimber gave the biggest performance of her life – and made a Royal fan in the process. The youngster played her original song called Sunshine Song to the Royal couple.
Charlotte wrote the song the last time she was in hospital and said she was “quite nervous” about playing it for royalty. “I am happy I did it… they were nice,” she said.
The budding songwriter said she was thrilled when the Duchess of Cornwall asked if she could keep the lyrics to her song.
The Prince and Duchess were greeted by hundreds of staff and patients, and even a round of applause when the walked into the hospital.
After stopping to greet waiting children and staff, they were ushered upstairs to level six where they were met by 13-year-old Abbi Head who has only recently finished chemotherapy.
Abbi, who has bone cancer, said although she had a sick stomach this morning, she powered through for her special meeting. “It was a bit scary at first (but then) I started getting to know them and talking to them,” she said.
Abbi joked to Prince Charles about playing the ukulele. “He told me he played the cello… a fancy ukulele.”
Charles and Abbi shared jokes during Prince Charles and Camilla’s visit to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
The Royal couple were treated to a performance of dancing by a roomful of excited children to Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling.
They then became the latest big names to be part of hospital’s Juiced TV, joining stars including Thor star Chris Hemsworth.
Juiced TV – a TV show made for kids in hospital by kids in hospital – stars Elizabeth Ross, 9, and Max Bishop, 12, showed Charles and Camilla how to make lamingtons.
Juiced TV is an Australian first entertainment initiative that benefits the health and wellbeing of sick children and their families in hospital, one episode at a time. It was launched in January 2015 and since then it has directly touched the lives of more than 1,800 patients and their families by improving the hospital journey and creating a unique way for them to engage and communicate with one another.
Follow Juliet’s LIVE coverage of Prince Charles and Camilla’s royal Commonwealth Games tour, follow her on Twitter @JulietRieden.
