As King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off their visit to Australia, they arrived at a community barbecue picnic in western Sydney, where an amusing surprise greeted them: the unmistakable strains of Jimmy Barnes’ anthem, “Working Class Man,” floated over the event.

The couple mingled with a sea of guests despite the sweltering heat at Parramatta Park, where muster dogs kept watch over barrels and a windmill spun lazily above a haystack. This picnic, hosted by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna, was one of many uniquely Australian engagements for the royal couple on their final day of a whirlwind six-day tour.

While they opted out of eating at the barbecue, Charles and Camilla did take a turn with the tongs, chatted with surf lifesavers, and watched in amusement as dogs herded sheep and ducks near a bustling media scrum.

In addition to the picnic, King Charles visited the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) and the Melanoma Institute, where he met the joint Australians of the Year, Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer. At the NCIE, he was welcomed by Aunty Beryl Booth, who had served him 40 years earlier during a previous Australian tour, and was offered a kangaroo pie before heading into a private meeting with Indigenous elders.

Nevertheless, outside the center, a small group of protesters chanted phrases like “You’re on stolen land” and “No pride in genocide.” This contrasted sharply with the dramatic confrontation King Charles faced from Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe just a day earlier at Parliament House.

Later, the King joined Minns and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to tour an ongoing housing project in inner-city Sydney. Charles donned a high-visibility vest and hard hat, while Camilla visited OzHarvest, where she was awarded the charity’s “most prestigious order”—the teaspoon. “I shall wear it with pride,” she joked with a smile.

The couple continued making the rounds in Parramatta, meeting local celebrities like Australian cricketer David Warner and the original Blue Wiggle, Anthony Field. They even took a turn at the surf lifesaver’s barbecue, where the King humorously remarked about the sausages, joking that if he stayed too long at the grill, he might “ruin them.” He then quipped about the waves in Coogee when asked if he planned to take a swim in his Speedos, replying with a laugh, “Maybe another time.”

During his address to the crowd, the King praised Sydney’s multiculturalism, calling it “one of the most dynamic, enterprising, and culturally diverse communities in the world.” He noted, “It is no wonder that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine—be it smashed avocado, a pavlova, or a cabernet sauvignon.”

Later in the day, around 10,000 people gathered to greet the royals at the Sydney Opera House. Charles and Camilla enjoyed a performance by primary school children and participated in a Royal Australian Navy fleet review on Sydney Harbour.

While the event proceeded largely without issue, there was a notable disturbance when Aboriginal man Wayne “Coco” Wharton was arrested while protesting, attempting to serve papers for the King’s arrest, declaring, “You have no receipt, you have no agreement on the occupation of this country.”

Despite some dissent, enthusiasm for the royal visit was palpable. Crowds cheered as they waved Australian flags, and many brought their pets dressed for the occasion. Natalie Hulford, for instance, showcased her four-year-old dachshund, Captain Bigglesworth, adorned with a fluffy crown and cape.

As King Charles and Queen Camilla moved through the crowd, they engaged with attendees who shouted, “Hurray!” and “King Charles!” One woman even exclaimed, “I love you!” as a band struck up “God Save the King.”

Thirteen-year-old Tilly Cooper from Sydney’s northern beaches was over the moon after shaking hands with the King, joyfully exclaiming, “He took my flowers and he shook my hand! Camilla accepted my gift. This is amazing.”

The prospect of another royal visit was not lost on the crowd, with a Year 6 student at nearby Rose Hill Public School solemnly remarking, “I’m really excited. We may not even see him again.”