King Charles III ends first Australian visit by a reigning British monarch in 13 years

Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — King Charles III is ending the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch in 13 years with anti-monarchists hoping the debate surrounding his journey is a step toward an Australian citizen becoming head of state. Esther Anatolitis, co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement, said while thousands turned out to see the king and Queen Camilla at their public engagements, the numbers were larger when his mother Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia 70 years ago. Controversy interrupted the visit on Monday when Indigenous independent senator Lidia Thorpe yelled at Charles during a reception that he was not her king and Australia was not his land. An Indigenous activist was arrested outside Sydney Opera House on Tuesday.