The indigenous leader who welcomed the King to Canberra has called on him to apologise for colonial wrongs.
Aunty Serena Williams from the Ngunnawal people, performed a “Welcome to Country” and smoking ceremony as the King arrived in the Australian capital.
She said: “We all have roles and responsibilities, and I have roles and responsibilities to my people. And I think an apology would be beautiful.”
When asked if that meant the King himself should say sorry, she replied, “Yes. Because we have to acknowledge our past.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Pic: Brook Mitchell/Pool Photo via AP
Her comments came before a senator shouted at the King after his speech to prominent politicians and dignitaries at Parliament House in Canberra.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, wearing traditional clothing, leapt up and shouted: “This is not your land. You are not our King.”
During his address, the King referenced the Welcome to Country ceremony performed by Aunty Serena as he landed in Canberra, and said he “deeply” appreciated the gesture, which he said offered the chance to, “to pay my respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we meet”.
The King said: “In my many visits to Australia I witnessed the courage and hope that have guided the nation’s long and sometimes difficult journey towards reconciliation.”
King Charles before being sneezed on by an alpaca. Pic: AP Photo/Mark Baker, Pool
But he stopped short of the apology indigenous leaders had hoped to hear.
Senator Thorpe was taken out of the Great Hall while the King turned to talk with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
She is the first Aboriginal woman from the state of Victoria to become a senator.
When she was sworn into parliament she refused to take an oath of allegiance to the late Queen.