King Charles III met with indigenous leaders and survivors of the Stolen Generations on the final day of his visit to Australia. This is the name given to the countless children who were taken from their families by the British during colonization and ‘re-educated’ by whites in forced institutions.
The king listened to many of the stories of the former victims. Including that of Uncle James Michael “Widdy” Welsh, whom he hugged after telling him he wasn’t a good handshaker. “Hugs are good,” the king exclaimed and warmly embraced the 72-year-old, it was reported.
James was taken from his family in Coonamble, central NSW, when he was eight years old. He was placed in the Kinchela boys’ home and given the number 36.
Uproar in parliament
The issue has also become the focus of attention in the Australian media. It wasn’t until Monday that a scandal erupted in the Australian parliament in Canberra when an Indigenous senator verbally attacked the king. After a speech by Charles, politician Lidia Thorpe shouted loudly into the audience: “You are not my king, you are not our king!” Before being led away by security officers, she demanded: “Give us our country back!”
A reporter specializing in indigenous affairs told ABC Television that it was inevitable that the king would have difficult conversations with indigenous people during this trip. “I think he’s going to have to deal with it and talk about it and then think about the impact of colonization on First Nations people at home.” The approximately 980,000 Indigenous Australians remain disadvantaged in many ways compared to the remaining 26 million Australians and often live on the margins of society.
At the National Center of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, Charles attended an Indigenous dance performance accompanied by traditional instruments – most notably the iconic didgeridoo.
Visit to the opera and the Harbor Bridge
Then a mandatory flying visit for all visitors to Sydney was on the agenda: Charles and his wife Camilla marveled at the famous opera house against the backdrop of the famous Harbor Bridge, where a large crowd had gathered. Both shook many hands and greeted the royal fans. Two crowned dogs – Lucy and Larry – also waited patiently for the distinguished visitor. The couple then boarded a naval boat for a tour of the beautiful harbour. This ended the official part of the trip Down Under.
On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla will travel to the Pacific island of Samoa, northeast of Fiji, for the Commonwealth summit. The confederation mainly includes former British colonies. It is the king’s first long-distance trip since he made his cancer public a few months ago. According to British media, he interrupted his treatment because of the visit.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
