The Prince of Wales had a rather scared look on his face – but insiders say the royal couple were just joking around.
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To coincide with the royal visit, the Australian Republican Movement released an opinion survey which found that 51 per cent of people would prefer an Australian head of state to “King Charles”.
Nature provided ideal timing, and as the crowd hoorayed the prince after singing Happy Birthday, thunder exploded above and guests were swiftly drenched.
As the students reached their crescendo, a lightning bolt struck right behind the Prince’s podium, which was elevated slightly above the garden party.
The prince and the duchess were taken on a tour of the property and Camilla admitted she loves a tipple.
Premier Colin Barnett, who is hosting the public celebration, said that he plans to give the royal couple a taste of the very best West Australian produce.
He said the address “was not uttered by an Australian”.
Also on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said that “both Malcolm Turnbull and I both support a republic, so why wait?”
Sylvia and Ian Brandenburg missed out on seeing Charles and Camilla in their hometown of Albany on Saturday because they were in Perth, so they were looking forward to spotting them at the cathedral.
More than 127 people are feared to have been killed during a night of terror in the French capital in which there were several suicide attacks and a bombing near the Stade de France stadium, shootings at restaurants and a massacre inside a popular music venue. It is not known at this stage whether the summit will be rearranged in light of last night’s events.
The Daily Telegraph reports Prince Charles was on the receiving end of an eight second pat of his royal posterior as he was introduced to members of the emergency services.
“During committee hearings, the assembled security bureaucrats from agencies like the Department of Immigration made the staggering admission that they hadn’t bothered speaking to any other countries, and particularly not Australia’s allies, about how they felt about Australia dumping its terrorists on them”.
The prince was then offered a slice of lemon tart by chef Nicolas Fleury.
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Thousands filled the city centre to greet Charles and Camilla as they went on a walkabout to meet locals and tourists. Charles and Camila will also have the opportunity to look out over the point from which Australian and New Zealand troops departed for the Great War.
