Radiant Camilla wins over royal fans in Brisbane

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have arrived in Brisbane, ahead of tonight’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, to plenty of pomp and fanfare. 

The royal couple were welcomed with a formal ceremony and a 12-gun salute at Old Parliament House at the Queensland University of Technology, and were joined by Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who showed them around the magnificent grounds. 

The duchess was dressed in a green dress and a matching hat for the occasion, while the prince looked smart in a grey suit paired with a light-blue tie and white dress shirt. The royal pair seemed to be in high spirits as they greeted eager well wishers. 

QUT Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil shared an image of the royal couple chatting wandering through the university grounds.  

https://twitter.com/MargaretSheil/status/981373278756290560

Before heading to the games, the royal duo will take a walk through the city’s botanic gardens and visit young patients at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital later this afternoon. 

While it’s the first time the public have caught a glimpse of the royal duo, Charles and Camilla have actually been in the country all week. The couple managed to evade the press and have been staying on a friends farm named Deltroit Station, near Gundagai in NSW.

According to the ABC, the farm is owned by British-Australian businessman Sir Michael Hintze, who bought the property in 2016.

This evening the prince will officially open the Commonwealth Games on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Other duties for Charles and Camilla include presenting medals at the swimming finals and a tour of the Athlete’s Village.

An Aussie favourite to farewell HRH The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall @ClarenceHouse. Thanks to our @DeptDefence service women & men who've played a huge role in the #RoyalVisit at #QUT.#RoyalTour pic.twitter.com/YMp1SAQAsf

— QUT (@QUT) April 4, 2018

While the duchess will return to the UK on Friday, Charles will continues his Australian visit solo, visiting Bundaberg, Cairns and Darwin. According to Nine News, the royal pair quietly spent a few days at a friends homestead outside Gundagai in regional NSW, before flying to Queensland from Wagga Wagga airport this morning. 

Before her departure, Camilla is set to host a tea to celebrate the Women of the ­Commonwealth as part of the WOW (women of the world) festival, The Courier Mail reported.

Palaszczuk also announced last week that the prince would attend a meeting on coral resilience  in the southern Great Barrier Reef. 

The tour marks Charles sixteenth visit to Australia, the first of which took place in 1966. And Charles and Camilla’s most recent visit saw them tour Adelaide, Tanunda, Canberra, Sydney, Albany and Perth in 2015.

While in Australia, Charles will be keeping tabs on his 96-year-old father’s health, with Prince Phillip admitted to a hospital for surgery on a hip problem. 

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon, for planned surgery on his hip which will take place tomorrow. Further updates will be issued when appropriate.”

It comes amid reports Philip missed Sunday’s Easter church service due to a hip problem. He also missed the Maundy service last Thursday, as well as an appearance at Windsor Castle the week before.

Will you be watching the Commonwealth Games? 

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