Britain\u2019s King Charles and Queen Camilla met large, cheering crowds in Sydney after attending a church service on Sunday, the first event of their Australia tour. <\/p>\n
The royal couple were greeted at St Thomas\u2019 Anglican Church by the archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, and children from the church\u2019s Sunday school who waved Australian flags. <\/p>\n
Camilla, wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, was given a flower bouquet by the minister\u2019s wife, Ellie Mantle, who asked if they had recovered from jet lag after the long flight to Australia on Friday. \u201cSort of,\u201d Camilla replied. <\/p>\n
Inside the church, Charles and Camilla signed two bibles, including one that belonged to Australia\u2019s first minister and chaplain of the First Fleet of ships that took convicts from Britain to the penal colony of Australia in 1788. <\/p>\n
Outside, the royal couple shook hands and chatted with families and cheering fans, some singing \u201cGod Save the King,\u201d who lined the streets around the church, the public\u2019s first opportunity to meet Charles and Camilla since they arrived in Australia\u2019s biggest city on Friday night. <\/p>\n
Traveling across Sydney Harbour, Charles visited the New South Wales parliament, marking the 200th anniversary of Australia\u2019s oldest legislature. <\/p>\n
The king presented the lawmakers with an hour glass to time their speeches, and highlighted the fundamental role of strong parliaments to democracy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a great joy it is to come to Australia for the first time as sovereign and to renew a love of this country and its people which I have cherished for so long,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Charles is making his inaugural visit to an overseas realm as sovereign and his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer. <\/p>\n
He will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa after the six-day Australia tour. <\/p>\n
Charles had made a significant personal donation to create a skills program to tackle climate change and boost higher education in small island states, including the Pacific Islands, the Association of Commonwealth Universities said on Sunday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my life I have believed in the power of education to improve lives and unite communities across the Commonwealth and beyond,\u201d he said in a statement. <\/p>\n
Mid-career professionals and civil servants will benefit from the fellowships, in a program that aims to retain talent in small island states and bolster resilience to the impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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