King Charles touches down in Australia to kick off ‘exhausting’ 9-day tour after doctors ‘paused’ cancer treatment
KING Charles has touched down in Australia to kick off his exhausting nine-day tour after doctors "paused" his cancer treatment.
The monarch and Queen Camilla arrived at a wet and windy Sydney Airport today aboard a Royal Australia Air Force jet from Singapore.
Charles, 75, led the way down the stairs of the military aircraft after it landed late in the evening local time.
Camilla, 77, wearing her Australian wattle brooch - a gift from Australian people to the late Queen Elizabeth II, watched her step as she made her way into Oz carrying an umbrella.
It comes after reports the King is halting his treatment for an unspecified cancer for 11 days during his time abroad, which also includes a trip to Samoa.
EPIC LIGHT SHOW
The royal couple were flown low over Sydney to witness from their windows images of previous tours displayed in an epic light show on the world famous Opera House.
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Sydney had been battered by heavy rain and wind and even thunder and lightning as the couple headed in on an Australian military jet from Singapore.
They stepped off the plane being careful not to slip on the steps.
They were greeted on the tarmac by the PM Anthony Albanese, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and other dignitaries including one-time republican Governor General Sam Mostyin and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.
They were also welcomed to Australia by 12-year-old Ky and his sister Charlotte who presented posies to Camilla.
Young Ky, who has a serious blood condition, was given the honour after asking to meet the Royal couple in a letter sent to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Charles and Camilla were then whisked away in a motorcade, with the King to have a cup of tea with the Prime Minister at Admiralty House.
The Opera House light show, costing an estimated £50,000, was given the go-ahead despite previously refusing to carry out the tradition for the Coronation.
The four-minute looping montage showed images of previous royal visits to Sydney running from the couple’s arrival until midnight.
The Sun exclusively photographed the King leaving Heathrow on Thursday morning.
He flew commercial to Singapore, where he met Camilla who had been on a private break.
Support for axing the King as ceremonial Head of State has fallen and antics including an advert calling the visit a "farewell tour" and Britain's rabble-rousing Not Our King staging protests have been blasted as "infantile, rude and unnecessary".
Chris Minns said ahead of the visit: "I'm a republican but I'm going to treat him as an honoured guest in NSW, which he genuinely is.
"I hope he'll have a great time here and I'll be on my best behaviour."
The royal couple will have a rest day on Saturday to get over the jet lag and left racing fans disappointed as they will not attend Royal Randwick horse racing to watch the $5 million King Charles III Stakes.
CANCER TREATMENT
They will also visit the Australian capital Canberra before making a State Visit to Samoa in the south Pacific, where Charles will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The monarch was set to continue his cancer treatment right up until he flies, the Mail reports.
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But the King's doctors were reportedly happy for him to briefly stop his treatment while he is away.
Charles will start treatment again as soon as he gets back from his trip.
