Warm welcome for King and Queen as royal couple attend church service

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Large crowds have been treated to a moment with King Charles III and Queen Camilla as the Royals greeted locals in Sydney.

There was a high level of security when the royal couple arrived at St Thomas' Anglican Church in North Sydney for the first official duty of their short royal tour of Australia.

Earlier protesters gathered near the church, but they were outnumbered by large crowds waving Australian flags and cheering the King and Queen.

READ MORE: Everything to know about King Charles III and Queen Camilla's Australian tour

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla Australia tour

King Charles, wearing a pale suit, and Queen Camilla, resplendent in a straw hat, were greeted by children from the local Sunday school.

Their arrival followed an extensive security operation by police.

Police riot squad officers have been checking underneath parked vehicles in streets while the dog squad has been sweeping the area.

After the service, the pair spent time greeting crowds.

Children waved Australian flags while others asked for selfies.

Bouquets of flowers were handed over to the pair.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla Australia tourKing Charles III and Queen Camilla

The King then headed into the city for another engagement alone.

He was at the New South Wales Legislative Council bicentenary event at the state's Parliament House in Sydney.

After meeting more crowds outside, he made a speech inside.

Fifty years ago, in 1974, Charles represented his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the 150th celebrations.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla Australia tour

That's an occasion he highlighted in his speech with his signature sense of humour, quipping to the delight of the room that he "first came to Australia nearly 60 years ago, which is slightly worrying,"

The monarch then gifted parliament with an hourglass, for the purpose of timing speeches – only to be interrupted again by laughter.

"With the sounds of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is to come to Australia for the first time as sovereign and to renew a love of this country and its people, which I have cherished for so long."

King Charles III and Queen Camilla Australia tour

The King then met the Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley at Admiralty House.

The royal couple spent yesterday resting after arriving in Sydney on Friday night.

The King and Queen will stay in Australia until Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1847744674548547681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The short but packed schedule includes stops in Canberra and Sydney.

The trip marks King Charles' first big overseas trip since his cancer diagnosis in February.

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Yesterday the Australian Defence Force appointed the King with a number of honorary ranks.

The ADF announced that King Charles would carry the titles of Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy, Field Marshal of the Australian Army, and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The last reigning monarch to visit Australia was Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

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