As the city of Sydney prepares to roll out the red carpet for King Charles and Queen Camilla's arrival, a lavish welcome gesture has ignited a fiery debate among Australians.

The royal couple, set to embark on a nine-day tour down under, will be greeted with a grand spectacle that has left some citizens questioning the use of public funds.

In a display of pomp and pageantry, the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated with a curated photo montage for four minutes from 8 pm, showcasing images from previous royal visits.

This grand gesture, intended to celebrate King Charles's first visit to New South Wales as Sovereign, costs $97,030.

A celebratory welcome is to be received by King Charles and Queen Camilla, with the Sydney Opera House sails illuminated by images of previous royal visits. Credit: Shutterstock

Premier Chris Minns has expressed that the light show is a 'fitting tribute' to welcome Their Majesties and to commemorate this historic moment.

The public is invited to witness the projection and even catch a glimpse of the King and Queen as they engage with the crowd on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

The royal visit will also feature a Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour, complete with an Australian Defence Force flypast and an on-water review of His Majesty’s Australian ships.

These events offer additional opportunities for the public to partake in the celebrations from various vantage points around the city.

However, the decision to spend nearly $100,000 on the light show has sparked outrage among many Australians, who have taken to social media to voice their concerns.

Critics argue that the funds could have been better allocated to address pressing issues such as the housing crisis, overcrowded hospitals, and the rising cost of living.

One Facebook user lamented the waste of taxpayer money on a visit by millionaires, while another questioned the excitement of 'battling Aussies' over such an extravagant expenditure.

Many echoed the sentiment of channelling funds to the needy, highlighting the disconnect between royal fanfare and the everyday struggles of the Australian people.

On the flip side, royal enthusiasts have expressed their excitement and support for the visit, with some planning to bring their families to the festivities.

Monarchists, in particular, look forward to warmly welcoming the King and Queen, showcasing the divide in public opinion.

As we delve into this contentious issue, it's essential to consider the broader implications of such expenditures.

While royal visits can boost tourism and international relations, they also raise questions about government spending priorities, especially in economic hardship for many citizens.

Key Takeaways

• King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to receive a celebratory welcome with the Sydney Opera House sails to be illuminated with images of previous royal visits.
• The NSW Government curated the photo montage to commemorate the King's first visit as Sovereign for $97,030.
• Public members have expressed mixed reactions to the cost, with some criticising the expense during economic hardship.
• Despite the controversy, some Australians are enthusiastic about the royal visit, planning to welcome the King and Queen in person.

Do you think the $97K light show is an excellent tribute to the royal visit, or is it a waste of money? How else could that money benefit Australians? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[Littleboy8]

I know that but it's only signing a piece of paper, once your living together it's like your married.

Defacto relationships have the same rights as being married only difference is a piece of signed paper.

Marriage is a commitment to each other .

Hope there wasn't any typo's

No it’s not I’ve been in de factos or as mum used to call it living in sin and never considered myself married at all, why would I what a dumb thing to say
Now I look back and wish I’d never got married what was I thinking dumb blonde bubblehead

 

[Rosi Gordon]

Do you really believe that? If so, you should get to grips with the facts.

As I enter my 80th year, it appalls me to see the bitterness and judgement being thrown around by women. Rarely men. Two things: why does Charles not deserve to be happy? Had the queen not forbidden their marriage in the first place, Diana would have married some aristocratic socialite and we'd never have heard of her.

Secondly, is your friend and family circle so lily-white that you know nobody who's been divorced or had a bit of a dalliance on the side? If so, you're one in a million! And I'm sitting next to my husband of 56 years, so I have no personal experience of divorce, but I know many who have, and I don't judge them.

Maybe you should judge them for the disloyalty, betrayal and hurt they have caused due to their own selfishness and lack of compassion for those who loved and supported them only to be left behind to suffer. Good on you for your life long marriage but I bet you wouldn't be so understanding if you were cheated on or left heartbroken.

 

[Ebby]

they won't answer that, I have asked the same question with no replies

Don't call US the poms ! Such a laugh ! Get off your high horse and stop being so nasty.
Some of us just get stuck here through no fault of their own You need to stop judging people.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Don't call US the poms ! Such a laugh ! Get off your high horse and stop being so nasty.
Some of us just get stuck here through no fault of their own You need to stop judging people.

I don't judge , some of us see that most Royalist are English. It's an Aussie thing saying Pommy

So I guess you are English !!!

Not sure how people are stuck here.

I actually take offence to anyone saying they are stuck here in our beautiful country

 

[Suzanne rose]

Sick, sick person! If the world has people like you in it, decent humans wouldn't want to grow old.

Obviously your intelligence and reasoning skills only extend to the point of attempting to insult others with foul language. So sad for you to be mired in such negativity, bitterness and hatred.

 

[Suzanne rose]

No it’s not I’ve been in de factos or as mum used to call it living in sin and never considered myself married at all, why would I what a dumb thing to say
Now I look back and wish I’d never got married what was I thinking dumb blonde bubblehead

You do know that if you live with someone for 2 years you have exactly the same rights as if you were married , including property, superannuation absolutely everything

 

[Suzanne rose]

Maybe you should judge them for the disloyalty, betrayal and hurt they have caused due to their own selfishness and lack of compassion for those who loved and supported them only to be left behind to suffer. Good on you for your life long marriage but I bet you wouldn't be so understanding if you were cheated on or left heartbroken.

Well said

 

[Littleboy8]

You do know that if you live with someone for 2 years you have exactly the same rights as if you were married , including property, superannuation absolutely everything

Went through that shit years ago not worth talking about now it’s in the past but lucky 2nd one had nothing when we met and married and left with half of everything I’d worked and saved for over twenty years. I hope he’s dead and gone to hell

 

[Mr Chips]

I agree, that money would be far better spent helping Australias homeless.

How?

 

[getting there]

Better remember to try not to spend so much on lighting up the Opera House for the sake of our first President then. And make sure he or she is not divorced.

 

[Ebby]

I don't judge , some of us see that most Royalist are English. It's an Aussie thing saying Pommy

So I guess you are English !!!

Not sure how people are stuck here.

I actually take offence to anyone saying they are stuck here in our beautiful country

Of course l am English and proud of it and l find it distasteful to be called a pom.
l hated it here when l first came out, the Aussies where far from friendly and papers full of pommy references then the Chinese came and all the hate turned towards them, they found out we were not so bad after all.
Not that it's much consequence to you but we had three life threatening accidents .
First my husband was critical when a machine he was fixing blew up Next my then 17 year old son was hit by a van while driving his motor bike when he worked at the post office he now has a plate in his head and then me in a car when we were going the back way to Mooney Mooney at night and a horse tried to jump over our car and landed on top of it and slit it's throat.l ended up an incomplete quadriplegic with C2 AND C3 breaks in my neck .Yes circumstances can get you so called stuck.l only have my brother in-law in the UK.Two of my daughters married Australians and l love them both and all my family are here so what else would l want they are my life

 

[Suzanne rose]

Of course l am English and proud of it and l find it distasteful to be called a pom.
l hated it here when l first came out, the Aussies where far from friendly and papers full of pommy references then the Chinese came and all the hate turned towards them, they found out we were not so bad after all.
Not that it's much consequence to you but we had three life threatening accidents .
First my husband was critical when a machine he was fixing blew up Next my then 17 year old son was hit by a van while driving his motor bike when he worked at the post office he now has a plate in his head and then me in a car when we were going the back way to Mooney Mooney at night and a horse tried to jump over our car and landed on top of it and slit it's throat.l ended up an incomplete quadriplegic with C2 AND C3 breaks in my neck .Yes circumstances can get you so called stuck.l only have my brother in-law in the UK.Two of my daughters married Australians and l love them both and all my family are here so what else would l want they are my life

Then try and love Australia it really is a great country.

My husbands parents, grandparents and and aunty came here from Greece in 1957

My husband was 13 his sisters 2 and 11 when they were involved in a car accident with both parents and grandmother. Both his parents were killed as well as his grandmother. After a long stay in hospital his aunty took care of them

Then 10 years later hus cousin ,his aunts son committed suicide Then her daughter at the age of 30 had an epileptic fit in her sleep and passed away.

Everyone has a bad story but my husband never blamed Australia

I'm so sick of people accusing Australian's as being racist. I wouldn't be married to a Greek if I were.

I have however seen Imigrants being racist to Aussies.

 

[Ebby]

Then try and live Australia it really is a great country.

My husbands parents, grandparents and and aunty came here from Greece in 1957

My husband was 13 his sisters 2 and 11 when they were involved in a car accident with both parents and grandmother. Both his parents were killed as well as his grandmother. After a long stay in hospital his aunty took care of them

Then 10 years later hus cousin ,his aunts son committed suicide Then her daughter at the age of 30 had an epileptic fit in her sleep and passed away.

Everyone has a bad story but my husband never blamed Australia

I'm so sick of people accusing Australian's as being racist. I wouldn't be married to a Greek if I were.

I have however seen Imigrants being racist to Aussies.

Oh for goodness Suzanne lets get past this but don't tell me what to do.l have lived here since 1969 and this is my home.l don't hate Australians l don't hate anybody and l am certainly not raciest l don't know where you got that from!
l am sorry for your losses and l know we all have them but you did ask me how some can get 'stuck here 'and therefore l was answering your question. Have a nice night.

 

[Joydie]

Maybe you should judge them for the disloyalty, betrayal and hurt they have caused due to their own selfishness and lack of compassion for those who loved and supported them only to be left behind to suffer. Good on you for your life long marriage but I bet you wouldn't be so understanding if you were cheated on or left heartbroken.

Both those things have happened to me and I found the strength to move forward. It was many years ago, but my husband and I talked about it at length and decided to try again. We're still together 50 years later.

It amazes me that people are so willing to criticise these two when they must have people in their own lives who've done exactly the same. People say the royals are no better than them, yet they hold them to a higher standard. Hypocritical.

 

[Joydie]

Piss off back to Old Bailey.

It's 7.10 am and I haven't warmed up yet.

I was born in Goulburn and grew up in Wingham and Dorrigo.

The Old Bailey is the court complex in London. I've never been there, so it would be difficult to return to it.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Better remember to try not to spend so much on lighting up the Opera House for the sake of our first President then. And make sure he or she is not divorced.

Presidents can be divorced not Royals

 

[Littleboy8]

Piss off back to Old Bailey.

It's 7.10 am and I haven't warmed up yet.

Wow vicious that wasn’t called for v.p. i’ll have to give you my first ever tomato sauce face and I hate tomato sauce

 

[Miss Chris]

The truth hurts.

But it doesn’t have to be harsh….

 

[Veggiepatch]

But it doesn’t have to be harsh….

To quote an old saying:-

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

 

[Miss Chris]

To quote an old saying:-

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.