From pyrotechnics to pageantry and the adulation of prominent Aussies and everyday punters, the King’s slimmed-down five-day tour of Australia with the Queen was a whirlwind of highs and lows.

Battling an undisclosed cancer, the King, 75, and Queen, 77, touched down on October 18 in a rain-drenched Sydney before heading to an at-times fiery reception in Canberra thanks to renegade Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe’s outburst at Parliament House.

Their packed itinerary in the capital on Monday was overshadowed by Thorpe, who told the monarch “You are not my king” before being led away.

On Tuesday in Sydney, the duo were in better company, and logistically pushed to the brink.

The highs included darting between a food bank, a social housing project, a literacy initiative, a community barbecue, a meeting with two leading cancer researchers and a naval review.

They didn’t complain about the lows, including the graffitied statue of Queen Victoria defaced with red paint, or additional chants of “You’re on stolen land” and “No pride in genocide” from bystanders at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in inner Sydney’s Redfern.

Instead, in bright sunshine they made their way to the Sydney Opera House, where thousands queued for almost a kilometre to get a glimpse of the royals during the biggest public event of the tour.

Heading to Samoa for CHOGM, the trip ends the first visit to Australia by a reigning British monarch in 13 years, and comes amid growing division over whether Australia should cut ties with the royals.

So while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the trip as “historic”, was it seen as a success or failure?

Nothing like a sausage sizzle to bring in the crowd. Photo: AAP

‘Galvanising’

Where the late Queen had a firm hold on the affections of many Australians – republicans and monarchists alike – her eldest son has not always enjoyed the same adulation.

A significant number of politicians of all persuasions, boardroom heavyweights and everyday Australians have been vocal in a desire to see the nation close its doors on the British crown at the end of her reign.

However, the King remains head of state in Australia, New Zealand and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom, although the role is largely ceremonial.

Despite that, the country’s six state leaders opted out of invitations to meet the King at any official gatherings on the itinerary.

Anti-monarchists hope the debate surrounding this trip is a step towards an Australian citizen becoming head of state.

“It’s been a galvanising time,” Esther Anatolitis, co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement told the The New Daily.

“We’ve been delighted to see people from all over Australia and all over the world asking why Australia still has a king.

“With more and more people now envisioning our future Australian republic, we expect these conversations to continue and support to keep growing.”

Anatolitis earlier told the Associated Press it was “understandable that Australians would be welcoming the King and Queen, we also welcome them”.

“But, it doesn’t make any sense to continue to have a head of state appointed by birth right from another country.”

Ahead of the tour, its official website urged people to join The Farewell Oz Tour campaign complete with merchandise (its Instagram has 10,000 followers), saying “It’s time to change the conversation – and time to give the royal wave goodbye”.

ARM’s campaign partner at Bureau of Everything promised a “bold, light-hearted campaign” for the farewell tour, but it generated just 400 Instagram followers.

The King and Queen with dozens of schoolchildren on the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Photo: Getty

‘Tremendous success’

The national chair of the Australian Monarchist League, Philip Benwell, told GB News “unfortunately royal visits always bring out the republicans”.

A low point during the royal tour, he said Thorpe’s rant at the King and Queen demanding a treaty “alienated a lot of sympathy”.

“If anything, she’s helped to strengthen our support.”

He told TND the tour was a “tremendous success”.

“The visit clearly revealed that the monarchy remains in the heart of the majority of the Australian people despite such great demographic changes over the past decade and more.

“What is certain is that it will take a very brave government to embark upon another republic referendum [last one in 1999 received 45 per cent for change].

” … it seems almost certain that it would face as devastating defeat as the [Indigenous] Voice to Parliament referendum did last year.”

‘From smashed avo, to a pav and a cab sav’

The King’s speeches were brief, solemn and, at a key multicultural event in Sydney’s west, referenced our favourite foods including smashed avocado, a pavlova and our local red wine varieties.

From the protest lows to engaging with cheering crowds in Sydney, to inspecting the fleet on Sydney Harbour – the Queen opting to go barefoot after their final official naval duty was over – it seems the tour was a success.

Veteran royal commentator Dickie Arbiter said “the speculation in this country was that people won’t turn out”.

“There is a great affection for the monarchy as an institution”.