King Charles III has drawn crowds during his tour of Australia, despite a volatile public debate about removing him as head of state.
The monarch, 76 next month, was heckled by a senator, who accused him of "genocide" over Britain's colonial past, and he was snubbed by state premiers, who all turned down invitations to a welcome reception in his honor.
However, royalists pointed to the size of the crowds that came out to greet him as evidence there is still love for the king down under.
It comes as campaigners from the Australian Republic Movement described the visit as a "farewell tour" and polling has indicated significant support among both the anti and pro monarchy camps.
Dan Wootton, a former GB News presenter, posted footage of Charles and Camilla greeting the public in Sydney and wrote: "Cancer-stricken King Charles and Queen Camilla are getting a rapturous welcome in Australia, dashing the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's republican hopes.
"The rude state premiers who snubbed meeting their head of state should feel particularly stupid."
And one monarchist account wrote: "King Charles greeting proud Australians at the Australian War Memorial.
"Record crowds to welcome Their Majesties. We love the security our system of constitutional monarchy provides."
It comes after King Charles III's speech to the Australian parliament was met with a protest by an independent, indigenous senator.
It's like 1983 again!
Cancer-stricken King Charles and Queen Camilla are getting a rapturous welcome in Australia, dashing the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's republican hopes.
The rude state premiers who snubbed meeting their head of state should feel particularly stupid. pic.twitter.com/iLJ3mdi9YJ
Lidia Thorpe was escorted out of the room shouting: "You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back.
"Give us what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land.
"Give us our treaties. We want a treaty in this country. You are a genocidalist. This is not your land, this is not your land."
"You are not my king," she added. "You are not our king, this is not your land."
The king's tour was always likely to involve protests as Australia has a significant Republican contingent.
A YouGov poll in September 2023 found 32 percent wanted to remove the king as head of state, while 35 percent wanted to remain a constitutional monarchy.
A more recent survey by the Pulse of Australia platform, run by News Corp, suggested 45 percent of the country opposed becoming a republic, while 33 percent were in favor.
King Charles is head of state in 14 countries outside Britain, which are known as Commonwealth Realms.
A number of these, particularly in the Caribbean, have active debates about breaking with the monarchy.
Experts have long felt there was a chance succession from Queen Elizabeth II to Charles would create a domino effect, in which one by one the realms would cut their ties with the crown.
Albanese is known to have republican leanings, but in January he put on hold plans to hold a referendum on the subject, suggesting it was "not a priority."
Jamaica is among the countries in the Caribbean that are eying public votes on the future of their relationship with the monarchy.
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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