The King and Queen received a tumultuous welcome in the Australian capital today, with thousands turning out to see them.
But their thunder was almost stolen by an impeccably dressed alpaca.
The animal, named Hephner, was among the crowd waiting to greet them at a war memorial in Australia and was wearing a shirt and vest with a bow tie, and even a gold crown perched on his woolly head.
The king, a keen farmer, was apparently left in “disbelief” after Hephner sneezed on him when he went to greet him.
Nine-year-old Hephner dramatically changed his lines when he was introduced to the king in front of the Australian War Memorial.
When the King stroked its nose, the animal let out a loud sneeze that caused laughter.
Large crowds turned out to greet the King and Queen, with fans waving flags and banners.
The crowd included Robert Fletcher who brought his alpaca, named Hephner because his mother was called Playgirl, to meet the King.
The animal, named Hephner, was among the crowd waiting to greet them at a war memorial in Australia, sporting a shirt and vest with a bow tie, and even a golden crown atop his woolly head.
Nine-year-old Hephner dramatically changed his lines when he was introduced to the king in front of the Australian War Memorial.
Robert, from Goulburn, New South Wales, uses his alpaca as a support animal for charities and nursing homes.
While waiting for Charles, he said: ‘My wife found the crown and thought it was suitable. I think he loves his crown very much.
“He has a lot of outfits, but it’s a special day, so he also wears a suit and bow tie.
‘Hephner has met some famous people before, but this is the King. He wants to meet the King.
‘He doesn’t bite or spit. Regardless, he is always on his best behavior.
“And he’s a pro-monarchy alpaca.”
Robert later said: “I shook his hand and then Hephner sneezed.
‘The King just stared in disbelief.
But that’s exactly who Hephner is. After all, he is an alpaca.”
The royal couple received loud cheers as they walked within 200 meters of Australian War Memorial Council member and Australian Army veteran, ‘Auntie’ Lorraine Hatton.
John Mordes, 21, left work to see the King and Queen.
He said: ‘He asked me if I wasn’t at university and I told him he should work.
‘I’ll go back to work and tell my boss I was on break.
‘I came down because he is the King and Queen and I don’t know when I will see them again.
“He looked great and had a firm handshake.”
Wendy Davies, 67, from Melbourne, met Queen Camilla who was wearing
She said: ‘I said welcome to Australia and shook his hand. She looks beautiful.’
At the end of the walk, the pair stopped at the Memorial For Our Country, where Second Lieutenant Jordan Bradshaw, a serving Indigenous member of the Australian Defense Force, played the didgeridoo.
King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Canberra on Monday to continue their six-day tour of Australia.
Camilla wore a white silk crepe court dress by Anna Valentine and a pearl and diamond brooch from the late Queen Mother.
The King and Queen used the visit to honor two Australian First World War veterans from opposite ends of society when they visited the Australian War Memorial.
After Charles and Camilla left floral tributes in recognition of the Australian Defense Force troops who paid the ultimate sacrifice, they walked the short distance to the memorial’s roll of honour.
A tradition has developed among family members of leaving a poppy next to the names of their fallen relatives, which appear on long walls in the monument’s cloisters.
The King stepped forward to place a poppy next to the name of soldier William Punch, an Australian Aboriginal man tasked with manual labor at the front who died in 1917 after being shot.
While the Queen left her flower next to the name of the former mayor of Auburn, Private William James Johnson, who was 44 years old when he enlisted and was shot dead at the Battle of Pozières.
The King and Queen honored two Australian First World War veterans from opposite ends of society when they visited the Australian War Memorial.
After Charles and Camilla left floral tributes in recognition of the Australian Defense Force troops who paid the ultimate sacrifice, they walked the short distance to the memorial’s roll of honour.
After Charles and Camilla left floral tributes in recognition of the Australian Defense Force troops who paid the ultimate sacrifice, they walked the short distance to the memorial’s roll of honour.
A tradition has developed among family members of leaving a poppy next to the names of their fallen relatives, which appear on long walls in the monument’s cloisters.
The King stepped forward to place a poppy next to the name of soldier William Punch, an Australian Aboriginal man tasked with manual labor at the front who died in 1917 after being shot.
While the Queen left her flower next to the name of the former mayor of Auburn, Private William James Johnson, who was 44 years old when he enlisted and was shot dead at the Battle of Pozières.