Smashed avo, 'roo pies: King samples taste of Australia

The visiting royals have sampled Australia's "top tucker" at a community barbecue featuring a who's-who of celebrities and community heroes.

A sunglasses-wearing King Charles was joined by Queen Camilla at the sun-drenched event in Parramatta, in western Sydney, where he praised what had become one of the most dynamic and diverse communities in the world.

"It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine, whether it's smashed avo, a pav or a cab sav," he said in a speech, before getting briefly lost in his notes.

The monarch received a warm welcome at the lunchtime event, hosted by the NSW premier, after earlier being heckled during a visit to the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern.

The chants of "You're on stolen land" and "No pride in genocide" outside the centre on Tuesday morning came a day after the King was confronted by renegade Victorian senator Lydia Thorpe in an incident that made international headlines.

She interrupted a reception in Parliament House in Canberra, telling the monarch "You are not our king" before being led away by officials.

But King Charles appeared relaxed as he mixed with members of the public at Parramatta, taking a turn on the tongs at the surf lifesavers' barbecue before being presented with a framed lifesaver's cap.

"Break glass in case of emergency," he said.

The King had a more-sombre meeting with police inspector Amy Scott, the hero of the Bondi stabbings in April, when she told him briefly about the terrifying ordeal that ended when she shot dead the attacker.

The royal couple also sampled wares from an array of the state's producers, including Andrew Hadjichari's olive oil-maker Aril Estate.

"The Queen knew her stuff," he said.

The final full day of the brief royal tour began in the inner city, when King Charles visited the Indigenous centre while Queen Camilla visited the nearby Refettorio OzHarvest.

The monarch met key elders after being welcomed with a smoking ceremony in the building's courtyard.

"We've got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday," Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chair Allan Murray told the King, in an apparent reference to Senator Thorpe's comments.

King Charles also met with Aboriginal food icon Beryl Van-Oploo, who served him 40 years earlier during another Australian tour.

This time, Aunty Beryl offered the King kangaroo pies, before he was rushed away.

At OzHarvest, the Queen sat down with regular patrons who came for a free vegetarian lunch made from foods spared from the bin.

It was her second visit to the charity, the largest food-rescue operation in Australia, following a trip in 2015.

The royal itinerary includes what is expected to be the largest public event of the visit, the King's first to Australia since ascending the throne, when the couple greet well-wishers outside the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday afternoon.

The last time a sovereign met the crowds at the Opera House was when the late Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2006.

The royals will then take part in a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Review of five ships on Sydney Harbour.

The navy, the army, and the air force will carry out fly-pasts and more than 600 officers and sailors will conduct a "cheer ship" salute.

Before the Opera House greeting, the King will take part in a series of afternoon events, including a visit to the Melanoma Institute in northern Sydney, where he will meet joint Australians of the Year Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer.

The 75-year-old King was earlier in 2024 diagnosed with a form of cancer, the type of which has not been officially confirmed.

The visit is the first trip to Australia by a reigning British monarch since 2011, while King Charles has previously visited 16 times in an official capacity.

The royals are due to leave Australia on Wednesday morning, heading to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

with pool reporters