Their Royal Highnesses Charles, The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall received a warm welcome at Old Government House on QUT’s Gardens Point campus today to start their Australian tour.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla being greeted at Old Government House by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove #royaltour pic.twitter.com/02bSMT27aR
— Felicity Caldwell (@fel_caldwell) April 4, 2018
On arrival, the Prince and Duchess were greeted by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, then signed the Old Government House visitor’s book and posed for photographs.
Officially welcoming Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Australia.
Posted by Governor-General of Australia on Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Also welcoming the Royal couple were Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, representing Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull, Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
A 21-gun salute rang out from Kangaroo Point as the Royal party moved to QUT's Kidney Lawn where Australia's Federation Guard stood assembled.
The 21 gun salute to @ClarenceHouse’s Royal visit...booms across #QUT’ Gardens Point campus pic.twitter.com/SNAlGra7ma
— QUT Media (@QUTmedia) April 4, 2018
Prince Charles inspected the guard, stopping to chat to army, navy and airforce personnel.
The Prince’s great-grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, were the last Royal visitors to Old Government House when it served as Queensland’s official vice-regal residence and office from 1862 to 1910. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York stayed for four days at the House in 1901, as part of their tour commemorating the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
After today’s official ceremony, the Premier accompanied Prince Charles and the Duchess on a stroll into the adjacent City Botanic Gardens, where they met crowds who had waited patiently and braved the morning showers.
HRH The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall @ClarenceHouse stroll with @AnnastaciaMP from #OldGovernmentHouseBrisbane towards the crowds gathered at #QUT for the #RoyalVisit. #RoyalTour pic.twitter.com/qA30kIUblw
— QUT Media (@QUTmedia) April 4, 2018
The Prince and the Duchess then enjoyed some private time in Old Government House before heading to their next engagement at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
This is Prince Charles’s seventh visit and the Duchess’s second visit to Queensland. Their tour focuses on the themes of community, sustainability and disaster recovery and resilience, and reflects the Prince’s strong relationship with the Australian Armed Forces, as well as the work of the Prince’s Trust Australia.
Tonight the Prince, representing the Queen, will officially open the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
QUT Media contacts: Karen Milliner, 07 3138 1841 or k.milliner@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
