After the uproarious welcome Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall received in Papua New Guinea the pressure is on for Longreach in outback Queensland to deliver.
It’s certainly a dramatic and inspired choice of venue for the royal couple to kick off their six-day, five states and one territory, tour of Australia, immediately setting the tone for a national walkabout focusing on connecting with local communities and real people.
Related: Charles and Camilla a hit in Papua New Guinea
While pomp and ceremony will pay its part, the vast majority of this ambitious journey through our wide brown land is throwing the spotlight on the diverse aspects of modern Australian life, from this first touchdown for a community barbecue in the heart of rural Queensland, to the race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup, a primary school and winery in South Australia, a rural women’s reception and sheep stud in Tasmania and iconic Bondi icebergs and touch footy on the beach in Sydney, just a few of the highlights.
As Their Royal Highnesses step out now in 38 degree heat, a distinguished welcoming party is headed up by the familiar face of the Queen’s representative in Australia, Governor-General Quentin Bryce, and also including Governor of Queensland Penelope Wensley, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, Mayor of Longreach Regional Council Joe Owens.
While Prince Charles has been a regular visitor to Australia first coming 48 years ago, it is his wife’s first visit, and judging by their broad smiles, it’s a tour the royal couple are going to enjoy.
Despite the heat The Duchess of Cornwall actually looked cool and comfortable in a stunning olive green chiffon dress with a delicate print of dusty pink and taupe pansies and pin tucks down the front.
She carried an elegant cream lace parasol which matched her husband’s cream suit. En route Prince Charles was given an akubra which he wore with pride.
The palace will be hoping for a positive response to the Duchess of Cornwall and she has a lot of hearts to win over. Princess Diana was adored here. Indeed a local on the flight over from Brisbane was adamant that she didn’t approve of Camilla. As far as she was concerned the rules preventing a royal heir to the throne from marrying a divorcee that forced Prince Charles’ Great Uncle King Edward VIII to abdicate are still very much applicable today.
But since Prince Charles and Camilla married in 2005, the British public has slowly warmed to the robust, warm-hearted and very likeable Duchess of Cornwall. And when I spent a week following the couple around the UK a month ago, it was clear that the Duchess was not just accepted but actively welcomed wherever she went.
So far here in Longreach the reception is just as hospitable and the hundreds who have turned out are excited to see the royals.
With the welcomes over we move to the Qantas Founders Museum Heritage Hangar where Their Royal Highnesses meet the staff and crew of the Royal Flying Doctor Service to unveil the naming of a new plane “FRDS Friends in the U.K. Patron HRH The Prince of Wales”.
Inside the hangar the couple hear the story of former RFDS patient Jim Nunn, told by his wife Leonie. Jim was rescued by the service when he broke his femur on his remote cattle station 134km south of Longreach.
“I’m thrilled to be here with my wife,” says Prince Charles looking at Camilla. “It is wonderful to hear just what an enormous difference the Royal Flying Doctor Service makes to people’s lives out in the outback. On a daily basis they help over 700 patients. It’s a remarkable job.”
Moving on to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame Prince Charles and Camilla are welcomed by 15 students on horseback from Longreach Pastoral College forming a guard of honour.
Inside there are whip cracking displays and meet and greets with four of Longreach’s most established rural families with historical connections going back generations. And a moment to pat a joey with a bunch of local children.
Walking back along the route to the barbecue Prince Charles and Camilla shake as many hands as they can to delighted faces.
Finally a relaxing community barbecue with some 300 guests finishes this extraordinary visit to Longreach with chargrilled Queensland king prawns, corn fritters and elegant rolls filled with shredded slow cooked Queensland beef, capers and fetta, washed down with local beer and wine.
Related: Charles and Camilla begin tour in PNG
If they were wilting in the humidity, they didn’t show it. The Prince delivered a heartfelt speech highlighting the importance of community service and pointing out that his jetlag had left him “two sausages short of a barbie” and then just three hours after they hit the tarmac, the royal duo headed off to Melbourne and a furious day of events including the Melbourne Cup.
The only question is can we, the press corp, following them, keep up!
