A small slip-up during the actual trip to Australia of King Charles III and his consort, Queen Camilla. When the British monarch was about to give a speech in the Australian Parliament on Monday, he was verbally confronted by an indigenous senator who told him: “You are not my King” and amidst shouts stated that he had “committed genocide against our people.”

Carlos III and Camilla had landed at Sydney airport this Friday and had been attending various commitments during the weekend on this historic trip. This Monday, the couple had arrived in Canberra where the king gave his speech minutes before experiencing the embarrassing moment.

What did the Australian senator shout at King Charles III after his speech in parliament?

After the intervention of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s son before politicians and dignitaries, Lidia Thorpe, an independent senator for Victoria, who was dressed in the typical traditional fur cape, walked down the aisle of the Great Hall of Canberra saying: “They have committed a genocide against our people. Give us back our land. Give us back what they stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. They destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty“.

As the politician headed towards the platform where the Kings were, the bodyguards prevented the 51-year-old senator from getting closer while her tone was rising in intensity. “This is not your land. This is not your land. He is not my King.” King Carlos ignored the protester and remained seated next to Camilla in the stands, apparently unfazed by the incident.

The day began with a welcome ceremony to Parliament by the elderly Violet Sheridan of the Ngunnawa Aboriginal community, followed by speeches from Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, and opposition leader Peter Dutton. Albanese paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, whom he described as “a shining thread through Australia’s history.”

“Since your first visit in 1966, you have entered the hearts of Australians, just as you have entered ours. You have experienced the great natural beauty of this continent, the quality, strength, and humor of our people, which translates into an affection that flows in both directions,” he said.