King Charles humorously referenced the “sands of time” while sharing his delight at returning to Australia during his address to lawmakers.
The monarch presented an hourglass—aptly termed a “speech timer” by him—to the New South Wales parliament to commemorate the bicentennial of its upper chamber.
“With the sands of time promoting succinctness,” the King remarked, “it simply remains for me to express what immense joy it is to visit Australia for the first time as Sovereign and to rekindle my affection for this nation and its citizens, which I have valued for such a long time.”
It appears he couldn’t resist activating the hourglass’s fine grains as he presented the timepiece to the legislature.
The King referred to it as a “speech timer”. Pic: PA
“Democratic systems must, of course, adapt to stay relevant, yet they are, in essence, robust frameworks, as I remarked in this building half a century ago,” he expressed during his speech.
“When founded on wisdom and goodwill, democracy possesses, in my view, an exceptional ability for innovation, compromise, and flexibility, alongside stability.”
This presentation was made following the King and Queen’s interaction with the public as they embarked on the first full day of their Australian tour by attending a church service in a northern Sydney neighborhood.
A young girl in a toy crown joins others hoping to get a glimpse of the King. Pic: PA
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Prior to the service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church, Rector Michael Mantle entertained attendees by stating, “Jesus said you will not know the day nor the hour when the King will arrive.”
Upon arrival, the couple greeted some children at the church entrance while a group of demonstrators were audible chanting “not my King,” though their voices were overpowered by cries of “hip hip hooray.”
The Rector’s spouse, Ellie Mantle, presented a rugby ball, a cricket ball, and a plush koala as gifts for the royal grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
“It’s a significant honor for us, as it marks the first chance for the public to see the King and Queen,” she expressed.
King Charles observes a packet of Tunnock’s Teacakes. Pic: PA
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Afterwards, the King and
The Queen dedicated time to greeting well-wishers outside, and the monarch even recognized an old acquaintance among the crowd – his former polo instructor, Sinclair Hill, regarded as Australia’s premier player in the sport.
He was accompanied by his spouse, Wendy Hill, who received a kiss on both cheeks from Charles and later remarked: “He is a wonderful man, and considering he hasn’t been well yet still made the effort to be here… The endeavor he puts into engaging with all these individuals is commendable. I thought he looked fantastic.”
Approximately 100 meters away, a small assembly of individuals, all advocates for First Nations resistance against colonization, brandished a sizable banner declaring “Decolonise”.
Wayne Wharton stated: “We are respectfully urging King Charles to initiate the process of decolonization, to collaborate with the Australian government, and to engage in negotiations with the Aboriginal communities for reparations regarding the unlawful settlement and colonization of what is referred to as Australia.”
