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Even with the royal spade, Prince Charles scarcely breaks new ground on 17th visit to Adelaide Even with the royal spade, Prince Charles scarcely breaks new ground on 17th visit to Adelaide
(about 3 hours later)
The royal spade had been checked for splinters. Its blade glimmered in Adelaide’s afternoon sun. Moments before, a woman had emerged cradling its fine-grain handle as you might a child. As spades go, it was magnificent.The royal spade had been checked for splinters. Its blade glimmered in Adelaide’s afternoon sun. Moments before, a woman had emerged cradling its fine-grain handle as you might a child. As spades go, it was magnificent.
Shortly, the Prince of Wales would wield the tool to turn the first sod at the Prince’s Terraces, Australia’s first six-star green housing project. But he is running late, his convoy caught in traffic.Shortly, the Prince of Wales would wield the tool to turn the first sod at the Prince’s Terraces, Australia’s first six-star green housing project. But he is running late, his convoy caught in traffic.
A small crowd has gathered in Bowden, at the site of the old Clipsal factory in Adelaide’s inner-north. They wait. So much of a royal tour is spent waiting. Residents at neighbouring housing projects watch the scene from their balconies, one man in a Union Jack singlet, bare feet hanging over the rail.A small crowd has gathered in Bowden, at the site of the old Clipsal factory in Adelaide’s inner-north. They wait. So much of a royal tour is spent waiting. Residents at neighbouring housing projects watch the scene from their balconies, one man in a Union Jack singlet, bare feet hanging over the rail.
More appropriately attired is David D’Lima, the national secretary of the Australian Monarchist League. He has a well clipped salt-and-pepper beard and wears a bright poppy on his jacket lapel. “I imported it from England,” he tells me. “We have dreadful plastic ones here – whereas these are quite stylish.”More appropriately attired is David D’Lima, the national secretary of the Australian Monarchist League. He has a well clipped salt-and-pepper beard and wears a bright poppy on his jacket lapel. “I imported it from England,” he tells me. “We have dreadful plastic ones here – whereas these are quite stylish.”
Related: Prince Charles and Camilla touch down in Adelaide for Australian tourRelated: Prince Charles and Camilla touch down in Adelaide for Australian tour
Two years have passed since Prince Charles’s last visit to South Australia – too long, in D’Lima’s opinion. “It’s remiss of the Australian government not to invite the royals more often,” he says.Two years have passed since Prince Charles’s last visit to South Australia – too long, in D’Lima’s opinion. “It’s remiss of the Australian government not to invite the royals more often,” he says.
“I wish there were more visits. We need to connect better with our sovereign, and with the heir to the throne. The phrase ‘king of Australia’ is not one that we’re particularly used to, but we’ll have to get used to it, because there’s another coronation coming, sooner or later.”“I wish there were more visits. We need to connect better with our sovereign, and with the heir to the throne. The phrase ‘king of Australia’ is not one that we’re particularly used to, but we’ll have to get used to it, because there’s another coronation coming, sooner or later.”
He says it is the prince’s 17th visit here, and Camilla’s second. “She hates flying,” he says. “But they love Adelaide.”He says it is the prince’s 17th visit here, and Camilla’s second. “She hates flying,” he says. “But they love Adelaide.”
Memories of earlier royal visits abound in the crowd. “Both Effie and I have met the Queen,” says Maryanne, waiting with her sister near the building site. “I think it was when we were schoolgirls, in the early 50s.” (Effie leans across and knocks her. “Don’t give our age away,” she says.)Memories of earlier royal visits abound in the crowd. “Both Effie and I have met the Queen,” says Maryanne, waiting with her sister near the building site. “I think it was when we were schoolgirls, in the early 50s.” (Effie leans across and knocks her. “Don’t give our age away,” she says.)
“His brother Andrew came to my parents’ restaurant in 1986,” chimes in Chris, standing nearby with his wife Linda. “I wish it was Princess Kate,” she says.“His brother Andrew came to my parents’ restaurant in 1986,” chimes in Chris, standing nearby with his wife Linda. “I wish it was Princess Kate,” she says.
Nearby, three young schoolgirls practise their curtsies, preparing for their own royal encounter. A TV cameras films as they rehearse their greeting: “It’s very nice to meet you, your royal highness.”Nearby, three young schoolgirls practise their curtsies, preparing for their own royal encounter. A TV cameras films as they rehearse their greeting: “It’s very nice to meet you, your royal highness.”
Bowden is a carnival compared with the royal couple’s arrival hours earlier, at RAAF base Edinburgh, north of Adelaide.Bowden is a carnival compared with the royal couple’s arrival hours earlier, at RAAF base Edinburgh, north of Adelaide.
Above, the sky is grey, humid. It is drab down below, too, concrete runways and dead grass for kilometres in every direction. Media are escorted into place nearly two hours before the arrival. Listless cameramen tinker with equipment, while journalists, hungry for colour, interrogate RAAF media staff on the minutiae of royal visits. Above, the sky was grey, humid. It was drab down below, too, concrete runways and dead grass for kilometres in every direction. Media was escorted into place nearly two hours before the arrival. Listless cameramen tinkered with equipment, while journalists, hungry for colour, interrogated RAAF media staff on the minutiae of royal visits.
One fact: embodying the nation’s sovereignty does not spare the prince and duchess from Australian customs procedures. Somewhere in the sky, Charles and Camilla were filling out passenger arrival cards, declaring any involvement in terrorist groups, or if they were carrying more than $10,000 cash.One fact: embodying the nation’s sovereignty does not spare the prince and duchess from Australian customs procedures. Somewhere in the sky, Charles and Camilla were filling out passenger arrival cards, declaring any involvement in terrorist groups, or if they were carrying more than $10,000 cash.
“Well, they’ve come from another country,” one RAAF staffer shrugs. “Well, they’ve come from another country,” one RAAF staffer shrugged.
“Customs process it very discreetly,” his defence counterpart adds. “But there’s no escaping those little green cards.” “Customs process it very discreetly,” his defence counterpart added. “But there’s no escaping those little green cards.”
A sudden pinprick of light in the clouds erases the morning’s languor. A modified Boeing 737 business jet materialises and makes an elegant landing in the distance. RAAF stair guards gave crisp salutes as the Prince of Wales descends in a grey pinstripe suit, a bright red poppy in his lapel. The Duchess of Cornwall follows, wearing a dark polkadot dress and prim white jacket. A sudden pinprick of light in the clouds erased the morning’s languor. A modified Boeing 737 business jet materialised and made an elegant landing in the distance. RAAF stair guards gave crisp salutes as the Prince of Wales descended in a grey pinstripe suit, a bright red poppy in his lapel. The Duchess of Cornwall followed, wearing a dark polkadot dress and prim white jacket.
She is more youthful in person, but moves stiffly, in jagged steps. He is more charismatic and at ease with people than his befuddled public image. Both are dwarfed by the governor-general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, an enormous barrel of a man, whose frame engulfs the prince as he escorts him to the convoy. She moved stiffly, in jagged steps. He seemed more charismatic and at ease with people than his befuddled public image. Both were dwarfed by the governor-general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, an enormous barrel of a man, whose frame engulfed the prince as he escorted him to the convoy.
The royal limousine, number plate 1, slows as it passes the press pack, and from the half-cocked window the pair wave. At us? Wilting journalists and cameramen stare dumbly back. I am standing closest and catch eyes with the Duchess. We nod at each other and exchange wincing smiles. I had been granted the royal gaze – and fumbled it. The royal limousine, number plate 1, slowed as it passed the press pack, and from the half-cocked window the pair waved. At us? Wilting journalists and cameramen stared dumbly back. I was standing closest and caught eyes with the Duchess. We nodded at each other and exchanged wincing smiles. I had been granted the royal gaze – and fumbled it.
Back in Adelaide, at the Prince’s Terrace, a round of sirens signals the arrival of the Prince of Wales. After a brief tour of the site, he clutches the royal spade between his thick fingers and trudges into the gravel.Back in Adelaide, at the Prince’s Terrace, a round of sirens signals the arrival of the Prince of Wales. After a brief tour of the site, he clutches the royal spade between his thick fingers and trudges into the gravel.
Prince Charles turns 67 this week. Sunburn already flecks his nose and cheeks. His tour schedule is punishing. But the joy is etched deep in his face as he swings the shovel and makes ground, to applause from the crowd.Prince Charles turns 67 this week. Sunburn already flecks his nose and cheeks. His tour schedule is punishing. But the joy is etched deep in his face as he swings the shovel and makes ground, to applause from the crowd.
It grows louder as he raises the spade above his head and pumps it like a prizefighter. Behind the cordon I spot D’Lima, clutching his lapel, beaming.It grows louder as he raises the spade above his head and pumps it like a prizefighter. Behind the cordon I spot D’Lima, clutching his lapel, beaming.
The three schoolgirls approach the prince, duly performing their curtsies, and present him with sagging flowers.The three schoolgirls approach the prince, duly performing their curtsies, and present him with sagging flowers.
He takes them and ducks into his limousine, giving a final wave before the car disappears from sight. “Tremendous,” D’Lima says afterwards, lost for words. “Just tremendous.”He takes them and ducks into his limousine, giving a final wave before the car disappears from sight. “Tremendous,” D’Lima says afterwards, lost for words. “Just tremendous.”