King Charles, 75, was welcomed by elders at the National Center of Indigenous Excellence, including those from the Sydney region and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
He was greeted by Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council Elder Allan Murray, who referred to Lidia Thorpe’s outburst in Parliament on Monday.
“Welcome to the country,” he said.
‘We have stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday in Canberra, but the story is unbreakable and we have a long way to go to achieve what we want to achieve, which is our own sovereignty. But welcome to the land of Gadigal.
Charles nodded as Allan spoke.
Allan welcomed him to the center and said: “We are a proud sovereign people.”
Another took out a lighter to begin the smoking ceremony.
The King said: “I was in the bush in Victoria in 1966 trying to light the fire it was a problem because we didn’t have one of those.”
King Charles, 75, was welcomed by elders at the National Center of Indigenous Excellence, including those from the Sydney region and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Meanwhile, the Queen was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon as she helped serve professional chef food to vulnerable customers.
He made smoke float that signifies a welcome to the indigenous land.
The King was welcomed by Ms Jody Broun, CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and Leon Donovan, Regional Manager of New South Wales and the National Indigenous Australians Agency ACT.
King Charles also met resident Aunty NCIE and local Aboriginal elder ‘Auntie’ Beryl Van Opploo, who demonstrated traditional food preparation techniques.
Speaking about the protest in Parliament, Beryl said: “Everyone has a choice, but I come from a different time.
‘Personally, I grew up with this and have lived it. We used to protest and do it all when I was younger, but not in a mean way.
“People have choices and my elders raised me with respect.”
In the sports hall, the King was impressed by a dance performance by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
After greeting the dancers, he said he tried jumping in the air and said, “It seemed like a good workout.” I don’t think I can still do it at my age.’
He also spoke to Gamay Rangers and members of the Inner City Empowered Communities Group, which provides services to local First Nations communities in Sydney.
And he spoke privately with several First Nations elders.
The National Center of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) is a not-for-profit social enterprise building strong foundations and strong futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Founded in 2006, NCIE aims to build capacity and create opportunities with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. NCIE’s programs, services and businesses are designed with the sole purpose of creating long-term improvements in well-being.
Speaking afterwards, Uncle Murray said: ‘We always long for the return of our sovereignty. We are a sovereign people, we have never signed a formal agreement or treaty.
‘The British flag was placed on our land without our consent.
‘We have been ignored. “We cannot rest on our laurels.”
Asked if he blames the king, he said: “It was his family that dates back to 1770. We have sent kings and queens asking to be recognized but we have been ignored since 1770.”
King Charles watched a performance by members of the indigenous community during his visit to the National Center for Indigenous Excellence.
“I think he heard what I said.
‘The King’s visit to Australia comes a year after the failed referendum (where the public rejected an Aboriginal rights bill).
“There is unrest in the community and our people are being raped, discriminated against and displaced.”
When asked about Lidia Thorpe’s protest, she said: “I think if we can be civil we can spread the message.”
Indigenous elder Joyce Wymarra, 81, later joined in for a private chat with the King.
He said the issue of sovereignty was not raised before the King.
But they said the elders talked about service in the Armed Forces and climate change.
She said: ‘I am a broad-minded person. I liked meeting the King so I could tell him about the problems that affect us, such as the rising water in the Torres Strait.
He said he had not seen Lidia Thorpe’s protest because she had been traveling for two days to meet the King.
Uncle Harry Allie, 81, who brandished five medals after serving in the Australian Air Force, spoke privately to the King.
A traditional smoking ceremony took place when King Charles arrived at the center on Tuesday.
He said afterwards: ‘It was a real honor to meet the King and talk to him. I have seen him on the news greeting many people and shaking their hands.
When asked about Lidia and indigenous rights, he said: ‘There is a time and a place. I think the King was welcomed here and for us to be so up close and personal was a great honor.
Uncle Noel Timbery, 85, also met the king privately and told him he saw Queen Elizabeth II on her 1954 tour of Australia.
Afterwards he said: ‘It was a very good meeting and we didn’t talk about anything.
‘I don’t know her (Lidia Thorpe) and I don’t know the young protesters outside who made all the noise on the road.
“It’s better to have a proper conversation about it.”
Meanwhile, the Queen was inducted into the Order of the Teaspoon as she helped serve professional chef food to vulnerable customers.
The Queen sprinkled edible herbs and flowers at lunch at Refettorio OzHarvest in Sydney, which rescues food that would otherwise be thrown away to create restaurant-quality dishes for those in need.
The Queen called it a “wonderful idea” and “incredible” as she entered the kitchen to receive instructions from the chefs.
Founder Ronni Khan told him the cafe was designed to “not only feed the stomach but also the soul”.
After helping prepare the lunch and asking the chefs about the ingredients, he sat at a long table to join the customers for eating.
Locals can be referred to the cafe, come with the help of charities or book and eat a three-course meal at the cafe for free. It is funded by donations and an $80 meal on Thursday night, which helps pay for meals for the rest of the week.
The Queen also met with staff and volunteers and exclaimed “a man!” when he met the one man who joked that he was the “best barista.”
‘What brought you here?’ he asked the team members, wondering if it was partly due to ‘all that delicious food!’
‘Can you tell me what we’re eating?’ —he asked a diner, making a gesture to indicate that he was not wearing his glasses.
It was a crispy potato hash with fermented chili, preserved peperonata, Persian feta, green zhoug, heirloom tomato and homemade selections, made from food that would otherwise have been thrown away.
Before the group began to eat, Khan offered the Queen a spoon-shaped brooch, with a crown on it.
He explained the concept: that in the event of a forest fire there are three ways to react: flee, complain or look for water.
Queen Camilla gets a teaspoon after visiting OzHarvest
The ideal, he said, would be to find a bucket, if not a jug, and failing that a teaspoon, and if everyone had a teaspoon of water, that would make a difference.
“I am very honored to join you,” the Queen said, accepting her brooch. “It’s a very important order to be a part of.”
He went on to ask his lunch companions how often they come for lunch and said, “I bet they look forward to it” and called it a “lovely experience.”
Food is sourced and distributed with the help of leading food rescue organizations OzHarvest, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Food for Soul.
Outside, hundreds of locals had gathered to watch the royal visitor and the Queen set off on an impromptu stroll.
Among those she met was the nine-year-old parrot Caesar, and she persisted in saying “hello Caesar” while he remained mute.
“He’s become camera shy,” the Queen joked, before the crowd applauded when the parrot finally responded “hello.”