In a shocking display at Australia’s Parliament, indigenous politician Lidia Thorpe excoriated the King and Queen with allegations of “committing genocide”. The Aboriginal Australian independent senator seized the occasion to confront Charles and Camilla as they made an entrance before assembled politicians and dignitaries.

Adorned in traditional attire and brandishing a document, Ms Thorpe stepped towards the podium while bewildered MPs and onlookers observed, loudly exclaiming, “You are not my King”.

Following her forceful removal by Royal security, Ms Thorpe confronted the monarchy, exclaiming: “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back, give us back what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.

“You destroyed our lands, give us a treaty, we want a treaty in the country, you are a genocidalist. This is not your land, this is not your land, you are not my King, you are not our King.”

The senator was also audible yelling “not my King” and “f**k the colony” while being escorted away, reports the Mirror.

Both the King and Queen remained disengaged during the ruckus, turning towards their adjacent counterparts as an orchestra filled the air with music. Notably, just a month before Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022, Ms Thorpe denounced the monarch as a ‘coloniser’ during her parliamentary oath-taking.

Ms Thorpe, who severed ties with the Green Party last year to become an independent MP, blasted the parliamentary oath as “archaic and ridiculous” after fellow lawmakers insisted: “You’re not a senator if you don’t do it properly.” Her criticism follows her departure from the party due to its perceived inattention to indigenous rights.

In a historic move earlier that day, King Charles partook in an indigenous “smoking ceremony” during his visit to Canberra, marking him as the first British monarch to engage actively in such a ritual. The ceremony, intended as a welcoming and protective rite, is thought to be unprecedented for a reigning monarch, contrasting with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s observational role in past ceremonies.

Tomorrow promises further engagement with indigenous matters as the King plans to attend the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, while todays Royal itinerary included a poignant homage to two Australian veterans of the First World War at the Australian War Memorial.

After laying floral tributes in honour of the fallen Australian Defence Force troops, Charles and Camilla made their way to the memorial’s roll of honour. It has become a tradition for family members to place a poppy against the names of their lost loved ones, listed on the long walls within the memorial’s cloisters.

The King placed a poppy next to the name of Private William Punch, an Aboriginal Australian who was assigned manual work at the front and tragically died in 1917 after being shot. The Queen left her flower beside the name of former Mayor of Auburn, Private William James Johnson, who was 44 when he enlisted and was fatally shot at the battle of Pozieres.

Within the Hall of Memory at the memorial, Charles laid a wreath at the base of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, alongside a floral posy placed by Camilla. As The Last Post echoed from a bugler’s instrument, the royals bowed their heads in respect during a minute’s silence, broken only by the sound of Reveille.

Since its construction in 1941, nearly every Royal visit to Australia has included a formal wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial, built to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian Defence Force Veterans. In a separate event, the King and Queen also acknowledged the sacrifices of Indigenous Veterans at the new For our Country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Memorial for the first time.

Following their departure from the hall, the King and Queen proceeded to the Commemorative Courtyard to sign the visitors’ book. The memorial, being Australia’s most frequented cultural institution, draws millions of visitors annually who come to pay tribute to the service of defence force personnel.

Upon stepping outside, Charles and Camilla were met by hundreds of well-wishers. However, the King was left in “disbelief” when an alpaca, donned in a crown and suit with a golden bow tie, sneezed on him as he approached to greet it.

Nine year old Hephner amusingly botched his introduction to the King at the Australian War Memorial, causing laughter when he let out a loud sneeze as the King petted his nose.

The Royal couple was welcomed by thousands of fans waving flags and banners. Among the crowd was Robert Fletcher, who brought along his alpaca – named Hephner after his mother, Playgirl – on a leash to meet the King.

Hephner was dressed for the occasion in a gold crown and suit, complete with a gold bow tie.

Robert, hailing from Goulburn, New South Wales, utilises his alpaca as a support animal for charities and nursing homes. While awaiting Charles, he remarked: “My wife found the crown and thought it was fitting. I think he loves his crown very much. He has lots of outfits but it’s a special day so he is in a suit and bow tie as well. Hephner has met a few famous people before but this is the King. He wants to meet the King.”

“He doesn’t bite and he doesn’t spit. He’s always on his best behaviour anyway. And he is a pro-monarchy alpaca.”

When Charles approached, Robert greeted him with a handshake and introduced the King to the animal. However, moments after the King gave him a gentle pat, the alpaca unexpectedly sneezed loudly.

Reflecting on the incident, Robert remarked: “I got to shake his hand and then Hephner sneezed. The King just looked in disbelief. But it’s just who Hephner is. He is an alpaca after all”.

The Royal pair were met with resounding cheers as they strolled 200 metres from the Australian War Memorial, where Council Member and Australian Army Veteran, ‘Aunty’ Lorraine Hatton, was present.