Updated 6:30pm 17th of October 2024
The New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Chris Minns, today confirmed the Sydney Opera House sails will feature a projection show containing photographs of previous visits by Charles & Camilla to Australia on Friday night (18 October).
The projection show will begin at 8pm, to coincide with the beginning of their Spring tour to Australia and Samoa with their arrival in Sydney & will run on a 4-minute loop. It is likely only the western sails will be utilised & will finish sometime around Midnight, as is the case for the vast majority of Sydney Opera House projection shows.
The photos are curated by the NSW Government & reflect the diverse ways in which Charles & Camilla have engaged with & celebrated Australia over the years.
The announcement comes as King Charles & Queen Camilla are due to conduct a meet and greet at the Sydney Opera House & a review of 5 ships of the Royal Australian Navy fleet in Sydney Harbour on 22 October. The Fleet Review was also announced today to finish at 5:20pm.
This will be the 2nd time the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in recognition of a Royal event, though the 1st to be recognised as a ‘Sydney Spectacular‘. It was previously illuminated with an image of Queen Elizabeth II when she passed away in 2022. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was previously illuminated purple for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee a few months prior. Buildings in the central business district (CBD) were also illuminated on that occasion as well as during her iconic 1954 tour, when she became the 1st Monarch to step onto Australian soil. One of the very 1st Sydney Spectaculars, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, also saw CBD buildings illuminated in 1887.
We are lighting up the Sydney Opera House to warmly welcome The King & Queen to our beautiful harbour city.
The photo projection on the Opera House sails celebrates a historic moment – The King’s first visit to NSW as Sovereign & is a fitting tribute.
I’ve made the point previously in relation to the Opera House, when it comes to events that are taking place in Sydney that will be our primary objective.
I also invite everyone to the Opera House forecourt next Tuesday afternoon to join The King & Queen.
The King is coming to Sydney & we obviously want to make sure he is warmly welcomed & that is what we’re going to do.
NSW is looking forward to hosting this milestone visit & I encourage everyone to make the most of it.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
In unofficial event news, (that is not officially connected with the Fleet Review) the Australian Monarchist League, who welcomed the above news, will have a large team of volunteers who will be handing out 6000 flags at most places that King Charles & Queen Camilla will visit in Sydney.
This (Welcoming the above news) is particularly following his (NSW Premier, Chris Minns) mean-spirited cancellation of the lighting of the Opera House sails for His Majesty’s coronation in May 2023 & his open admission this week that he is a republican.
We are an Australian organisation without any ties to any other Monarchist organisation & this is the sort of positive thing (handing out flags) we have always done over the past 25 years for all tours by our former Queen, Elizabeth II & Charles, as Prince Of Wales and now Charles III as King Of Australia.
Phillip Benwell, Australian Monarchist League National Chair
The Australian Republic Movement responded to the comment above:
As we reflect on events like the Opera House being illuminated with images from past royal visits, we’re reminded of Australia’s historical ties to the monarchy. Lighting up the Opera House for King Charles may be a respectful nod to tradition, but it also underscores the growing belief that our national symbols should reflect our identity & aspirations. The Opera House, a powerful emblem of our creativity & independence, deserves to celebrate a future where an Australian head of state—chosen by & for Australians—is the figure we honour.
While the Royal tour will undoubtedly attract those who admire the monarchy’s celebrity allure, we know that many Australians are ready to look beyond this. For those who enjoy the spectacle, it’s the 1st opportunity in over a decade to see a reigning Australian monarch. Yet, for a growing number, it’s time to envision a new chapter for Australia — one where we are represented by 1 of our own as head of state.
Nathan Hansford, Australian Republic Movement Co-Chair
Sydney Spectaculars 