Crown under

King tells of love for Oz amid warm greeting in Sydney

- RUSSELL MYERS

THE King told of his joy at landing in Australia to "renew a love of this country and its people which I have cherished for so long".

On the first full day of his visit Down Under, Charles yesterday undertook his first major ceremonial duties and made time for a couple of impromptu royal walkabouts.

In the morning the royals attended a church service at St Thomas' in North Sydney, before they were met by sizable crowds keen to catch their first glimpses of the King and Queen on their six-day visit to Australia.

Charles and Camilla spoke to primary school children from the Thomas' Sunday school group who were brimming with enthusiasm to meet the royals.

They had waited patiently for over an hour and when officials started arriving one boy excitedly shouted: "Are they here?" After the hour-long service, the King and Queen were wished safe travels for the rest of their trip before being asked to sign Australia's first Bible and a book of common prayer.

Every member of the Royal Family has signed the bible, which belonged to Reverend Richard Johnson, the first Christian Minister in Australia, on past royal visits.

The late Queen Elizabeth signed it in 1954 during the first visit of a reigning monarch to Australia, with the Archbishop saying the Bible "represents a significant history of this church and nation".