His Majesty took part in a traditional smoking ceremony with the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation during a separate event in Sydney. Dressed in a sharp light grey suit, the King appeared relaxed yet attentive as he was welcomed by local Indigenous leaders.
The ceremony, led by elders, symbolized a spiritual cleansing and unification. Known for his appreciation of Indigenous cultures, Charles seemed genuinely touched by the experience.
Elder Allan Murray from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council greeted the King, saying: “Welcome to country. We’ve got stories to tell, and you witnessed part of that story yesterday in Canberra. But our journey is far from over as we continue to pursue sovereignty. Welcome to Gadigal land.” Charles nodded in agreement as Allan spoke, acknowledging the elder’s words. Allan then added, “We are proud sovereign people.”
As the smoking ceremony began, with a lighter used to ignite the fire, the King reminisced about his time in the Bush in Victoria in 1966, humorously noting that starting a fire back then was difficult without modern tools. He waved the smoke, which represents a welcome to Indigenous land.
Charles also met with Jody Broun, CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and Leon Donovan, Regional Manager for NSW and ACT. The ceremony continued at an outdoor fire pit, where he gathered with members of the Gadigal people.
Additionally, the King met ‘Aunty’ Beryl Van Opploo, a Local Aboriginal Elder, who demonstrated traditional food preparation techniques. Reflecting on protests in Parliament, Aunty Beryl commented, “Everyone has choices, but I come from a different era. I grew up with protests, but we did them respectfully.”
In a sports hall, the King was captivated by a dance performance from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers. Afterward, he joked with the dancers, saying he tried to jump as they did but added, “That looked like great exercise, though I doubt I can do it at my age!”
The royal couple’s visit to Australia has been filled with meaningful engagements, from meeting government officials to participating in cultural ceremonies. Their efforts highlight their commitment to strengthening ties with the Commonwealth and addressing important issues like food security and environmental sustainability.
As their tour concludes, the King and Queen will now prepare to head to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where they will continue discussions on global challenges like climate change and international diplomacy.
