Thousands queue to but see the royals passing by

What royal tour would be complete without a visit to the Opera House? (Mark Baker/AAP PHOTOS)

Thousands of people have queued in the sun hoping to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Camilla as their tour comes to a close.

The royal couple greeted well-wishers at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday afternoon before heading out on the harbour to review the naval fleet after defence force helicopters flew over. 

The largest public event of the King's first visit to Australia since ascending the throne attracted a queue snaking around Circular Quay for about a kilometre.

Marina Grainger came to witness about two decades after lining up for the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth.

“I got very close to her, she was lovely,” Ms Grainger told AAP.

“It was pouring rain, so I got wet then but today I’m going to get sunburnt.”

Marina Grainger waiting in line for a glimpse of the King and Queen
Marina Grainger has been a happy and satisfied witness to royal visits in rain and sunshine.

Luckily Ms Grainger prepared a custom cork-style hat, strung with small crowns to keep the flies away.

Self-described royal enthusiast Paula Squires brought her own crown.

“We were actually front of the line until we went to the Opera Bar and had pizza and beer but, anyway, now we’re back of the line," she told AAP.

"But but it doesn’t matter, we’re here to embrace a bit of atmosphere.”

Ms Squires was also nowhere near the back of the line.

Janet Black and her daughter Anja briefly held that position around 3pm, on the other side of Circular Quay next to a docked cruise ship.

“We were in London by chance last year and we actually saw the coronation,” she said.

“I just hope we actually get to see them; we weren’t planning on being the last in the line.

“It just shows you how popular they still are,” she said, as people continued queuing.

Paula Squires (right) and friend Belinda
Royal enthusiast Paula Squires (right) brought her own crown for the occasion.

Before the Opera House greeting, the King visited the Melanoma Institute in northern Sydney, meeting Australians of the Year Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer.

The 75-year-old King was diagnosed with cancer in February but the type has not been revealed.

The visiting royals earlier sampled "top tucker" at a community barbecue alongside celebrities and community heroes at Parramatta in western Sydney, where the King praised one of the most dynamic and diverse communities in the world.

“It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine, whether it's smashed avo, a pav or a cab sav,” he said in a speech, before getting briefly lost in his notes.

Manning the tongs at the surf lifesavers' barbecue, the King mixed with the public before receiving a framed lifesavers' cap.

He had a more-sombre meeting with police Inspector Amy Scott, who told him about the terrifying ordeal she ended by shooting a man on a deadly stabbing rampage at a Bondi Junction shopping centre in April.

The royal couple sampled NSW produce, including Andrew Hadjichari's Aril Estate olive oil.

"The Queen knew her stuff," he said.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla cook sausages at the BBQ
The royals got to sample some top Aussie tucker at a community barbecue.

The King received a warm welcome at lunch, after heckles when he visited the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern.

The chants of "you're on stolen land" and "no pride in genocide" came the morning after Senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted a parliamentary reception in Canberra to tell the monarch "you are not our king".

The King met elders after a smoking ceremony in the centre's courtyard.

“We’ve got stories to tell and I think you witnessed that story yesterday,” Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chair Allan Murray said, apparently referencing Senator Thorpe's comments.

King Charles met with Aboriginal food icon Beryl Van-Oploo, who served him 40 years earlier during another Australian tour. 

This time, Aunty Beryl offered the King kangaroo pies before he was rushed away.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla visited nearby Refettorio OzHarvest.

King Charles has been greeted by Indigenous dancers during a visit to Redfern.

The Queen sat down with patrons who came for a free lunch made from ingredients otherwise destined for the bin.

It was her second visit to the largest food-rescue operation in Australia, following a 2015 trip.

The royals are due to leave Wednesday morning for Samoa, before a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

with pool reporters

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