TRANSCRIPT
The barbecue sizzling, the sheep dogs in place and the guests ready-and-waiting - all for a Royal arrival.
At Paramatta Park in Western Sydney, more than 500 guests lined up in anticipation on Tuesday afternoon, [[OCT 22]] hoping to meet, or catch a glimpse, of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
VOX 1: "It's a great atmosphere. So many different nationalities."
VOX 2: "I can't believe I'm actually going to perform in front of the King and Queen in real life."
VOX 3: "This has been my dream to see them in real life, so this is like, the best day."
VOX 4: "It's like, a one-time opportunity and not much people have it, so I'm really excited."
VOX 5: "Welcome to Parramatta. Yeah, welcome to Paramatta King and Queen."
Arriving by motorcade, their Majesties were greeted with a Smoking Ceremony and a nature exhibit by Greater Sydney Parklands.
They then moved on to indulge in one of the main attractions of this event - food.
Chop, among those who helped prepare the Australian sausage sizzle.
"We're down in Parramatta Park for the community BBQ. And then the King's going to turn up and hopefully turn a sausage or two... It's a beautiful day down here, great sausages, great barbecues. It's going to be amazing."
King Charles and Queen Camilla tried their hand at the barbecue themselves and spoke to Surf Life Saving New South Wales volunteers.
VOX 1: "They were very interested in Surf Life Saving, asking us how the beaches are today. I asked the King if he was coming down to Coogee Beach this weekend but he said he might have some other plans, but all good. He's always welcome."
VOX 2: "Oh, it was really cool I got to hand the King a pair of tongs. (Laughs) But no, they did good. They've learned the true Aussie activity of a barbecue. I never though when I was five that Surf Life Saving would lead me to meeting the King and Queen of England. It's pretty wild. Wasn't on my 2024 Bingo card."
Building on that concept, the event also showcased multicultural interpretations of the so-called Aussie 'sanger', or sausage sandwich.
This included a Mediterranean version.
Along with a Vietnamese Banh Mi, served in part, by Cecilia, who says she was shocked when the King spoke to her.
"We're serving Vietnamese Banh Mi, but there's a twist on that. So, it comes with a sausage roll, an Aussie sausage roll. And, as the King was coming down he approached me and asked me what I was doing here so I explained that to him."
Here's some of their interaction:
King Charles: "Are they really special?
Cecilia: "They are."
King Charles: "It's getting the pastry right."
Cecilia: (Laughs)
"Yeah, he asked me if the rolls were very special to which I responded, 'Yes they are'. And it pays homage to how multicultural Australia is, so we're very honoured to be part of this very special event."
M-C [[Master of Ceremonies]] and celebrity chef Adam Liaw invited King Charles and Queen Camilla on-stage, where New South Wales Premier Chris Minns introduced the pair.
His Majesty, reflecting on the occasion and his past visits to Australia during a speech.
"I am so delighted to be here in Parramatta. An excellent choice for a community barbecue, since Paramatta was a place where First Nations people from around the region also came together to meet and trade food. So it's a particular delight to see and smell all the top tucker from Western Sydney's vibrant and diverse community. Ever since I first came to Australia, very nearly, can you believe this, 60 years ago to attend school in Geelong and also to hack my way through bush country in Mansfield in Victoria, the generous spirit of all Australians has always made me feel welcome, and that is true today."
The event, also serving as a chance to showcase food stalls featuring organic and sustainable produce from regional New South Wales.
Guests included politicians, representatives from the Royal Agricultural Society, Vietnamese-born Australian author, comedian and artist Anh Do, and Detective Inspector Amy Scott, who confronted and shot dead a knife-wielding man during the Bondi Junction attack earlier this year.
But some, turned down the invitation, including Australian football great and former chair of the Australian Republic Movement Craig Foster.
The community barbecue, among King Charles and Queen Camilla's last formal engagements in Australia.
