Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have been welcomed to Australia, with their first official event during the royal visit for the Commonwealth Games.
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But the royal couple has been in the country for a number of days, spending time with friends in regional New South Wales before their arrival in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, who was wearing a pale green lace dress by Fiona Clare and a Philip Treacy hat, were greeted at Old Government House at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane's CBD on Wednesday about 1pm, with the royal guard of honour standing to attention on the lawn.
They were met at the door to Old Government House by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynne Cosgrove, with Home Minister Peter Dutton and his wife Kirilly, and High Court Justice Susan Kiefel also entering the building, as the waiting crowd of onlookers shouted out “welcome!”
After entering Old Government House, the royals and the Cosgroves exchanged some quiet, warm pleasantries, and Camilla smiled at the UK and Australian media contingent as she realised she had been left holding her umbrella, but politely declined an offer from a staffer to take it.
The royal couple signed the guest book and posed for an official photo with Sir Cosgrove and his wife, before walking into a private area for a chat.
They were welcomed on the lawn by Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and others.
A 21-gun salute was fired from Kangaroo Point, Prince Charles inspected the royal guard of honour and God Save the Queen and the Australian anthem were sung.
Following the welcome, the royals met with the public during a walk through the City Botanic Gardens.
Royal fans waved Australian flags and presented the pair with flowers during the 20-minute stroll, with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk by their side.
Excited onlookers yelled out “Prince Charles!”, with the pair splitting to opposite sides of the barrier to shake as many hands as possible, with hundreds getting up close to the royals during a break in the rain.
Prince Charles stopped to speak to Vanessa Cull, from Runcorn, asking about the Girl Guides and whether it was hard to find leaders these days.
Chris Joyce, from Brisbane, spoke to Prince Charles about the weather.
"I just said that it's been rather hot lately," Mr Joyce said.
"He said 'thank goodness the gardens are still here and it hasn't been built on'."
Penelope Edwards spoke with Camilla who asked about the Commonwealth Games, the reason for the official royal visit.
"She said 'I hope you're going to watch the opening ceremony at the Games tonight,'" Ms Edwards said.
Ms Edwards replied emphatically: "Absolutely!"
Another man told the future king that he shook his hand in the 90s.
Girl Guide Annabel Lauder, 12, helped collect flowers handed to the royals by Brisbane people during the walk.
Annabel's father, Brad Lauder, said her English grandfather Robert Marshall had also met Prince Charles, when he was working at a magistrates court in England.
"When [Robert] was a much younger man, when [Prince Charles] was touring the courts, he opened a new courthouse," Mr Lauder said.
"It's in the family."
But the news was overshadowed in the press because it was also the day prime minister Margaret Thatcher resigned, in November 1990, Mr Lauder said.
Annabel, with the Hamilton-Clayfield Girl Guides, said she was thrilled to meet the royals.
"I'm so excited," she said.
"I think it's the fact that it's just me and one other person in front of so many people.
"It's really daunting but a little exciting at the same time."
The royals will next visit Lady Cilento Children's Hospital as part of the official visit.
Prince Charles will represent his mother, Queen Elizabeth, at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Wednesday.
