Cameron Walker describes ‘very special moment’ during royal tour – go behind the scenes in Australia
GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker has given an insider’s view of his weekend covering King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Australia, exclusively for GB News members.
This weekend, Cameron interviewed the Governor of New South Wales, reported from in front of the Sydney Opera House, and travelled to Canberra as the royals undertake their six-day tour of the country.
Charles and Camilla arrived in Sydney on Friday night but spent Saturday resting before making their first public appearance at St Thomas’ Anglican Church on Sunday morning.
It is the King’s first visit to Australia since he became the country’s head of state in September 2022.
Cameron travels to meet the Australian Monarchist League
On Saturday morning, Cameron begins his day by travelling to meet the Australian Monarchist League, a voluntary group that advocates for the retention of Australia’s constitutional monarchy.
Cameron explains how the League are handing out flags to volunteers and planning to “welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to every engagement while they are in Sydney.”
He adds: “Hopefully my voice holds out!”
Cameron sheds light into interview with the Governor of New South Wales
The Governor of New South Wales, Margaret Beazley, was interviewed by Cameron Walker ahead of her private audience with the King.
Cameron gives a view of Government House as he speaks to members about the one-hour insight into the Governor’s world and views on the royal tour and republicanism.
Beazley described the royal’s visit as “significant for many many reasons” and “brings with it much interest and excitement.”
Cameron struggles with jet lag before going live on air with GB News Breakfast
Sitting outside of the Sydney Opera House, Cameron gives an overview of what the team did on Saturday while struggling with jet lag.
Cameron says: “We have visited the Australian Monarchist League. We have interviewed the governor of New South Wales, which was very exciting and now we’re just doing some lives into breakfast with Stephen and Anne, and I believe we’ve got one with Ben and Ellie, with Saturday Morning Life as well.
“I’m slowly trying to keep my voice alive. I really hope it lasts. It’s a struggle right now, so we’ll see. But I’ve got my Starbucks keeping me awake because it’s all coming up to 8 am UK time but here in Sydney, it’s coming up to 6 pm.”
Cameron Walker is upstaged by a Disney cruise ship
After broadcasting live with Stephen and Anne on Breakfast, Cameron was upstaged by a massive Disney cruise ship blocking the view of the Sydney Opera House.
Cameron explained: “I didn’t realise it was happening! It was Stephen who pointed it out to me, but this massive cruise ship, which is a Disney cruise ship, started blocking the view of the skyline and the Sydney Opera House as it came in to port here.
“That sometimes happens! It’s live telly. What can you do? We just have to roll with it.”
The Sydney Opera House display with the King’s images on Friday was also delayed because of another cruise ship coming out of port and blocking the view again.
Cameron travels on a media bus on his way to a church in northern Sydney
On Sunday morning, Cameron made his way to a church in North Sydney where the King and Queen were attending an Anglican service.
Cameron spoke to GB News members from a media bus with other journalists from the BBC and Telegraph travelling to St Thomas’ Anglican Church.
Charles and Camilla were met with crowds of cheering fans waving Australian flags and chanting God Save the King after attending the church service on Sunday.
Well-wishers had begun queuing from 5 am that morning to secure a prime spot to see the couple and others had flown in from across Australia especially.
Cameron Walker sends behind the ahead of the King and Queen’s meet and greet
While the King and Queen were in the church, Cameron shared a film of him in the crowd of onlookers, explaining cameraman Emil was in the “fixed point”, getting footage of the royals.
“It’s incredibly hot here. People have got umbrellas out and are trying to keep in the shade,” he explained.
“We’re waiting for the King and Queen to come out and do a little bit of a walkabout with the people here in Australia, although it’s not called a walkabout in Australia, it’s called a meet and greet or a meeting of the people.”
Cameron works from outside the airport before flying to Canberra
Sitting outside the airport terminal, Cameron worked hard on getting edits done for the Breakfast show on GB News.
Cameron said: So in order to get an edit done for Breakfast, which is in an hour’s time, I’m having to edit on a bus, in a hotel lobby, and now sat on a bench outside the airport terminal because we have to then very quickly jump on the flight to Canberra.
“So I need to get this done so you guys can watch it at home. It can get very stressful, but here we are.”
Cameron and his team flew to Canberra ahead of the King’s arrival in Australia’s capital on Monday. While he was there, the King commemorated veterans at the Australian War Memorial and was formally welcomed at the Australian Parliament House.
LATEST FROM MEMBERSHIP:
Cameron’s Royal Tour diary: Go behind the scenes in Australia during the King’s royal visitWhat a capital gains tax hike could mean for your buy-to-letCameron Walker forced to ‘completely scrap’ plan in Royal Tour Diary video
Cameron describes his favourite moment from his weekend in Sydney
Speaking from his hotel room in Canberra, Cameron and his team continue to work on edits from their interview with the Governor of New South Wales up until 10 pm.
He also adds that he is writing a “mammoth” of an email of instructions to the producers in London explaining the engagements of the King.
Cameron said: “A very special day for the King. We’re going to be covering the engagements he’s got at Parliament House. It’s the headquarters.
“There’s also going to be a traditional smoking ceremony that the King is going to be at and lots of other engagements as well. We’re also going to be heading back to Sydney later on tomorrow night as well for the final day of engagements in Sydney, so it’s very much all going.”
When asked what his favourite moment of the day was, Cameron said it was being amongst the crowds outside the church in Sydney.
He said: “It’s always really special seeing the people who have come out to wish members of the Royal Family well, especially seeing their dedication.
“Some have literally been there for hours and hours before I’d even got out of bed. People were there queuing, making sure they had a prime position. So yeah, it was a very special moment.”