King Charles Caught Off Guard by Sneezing Alpaca in Unexpected Royal Tour Moment

Mar. 15, 2025

King Charles reacts as he is introduced to an alpaca named Hephner during a walkabout outside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on October 21, 2024.Photo:MARK BAKER/POOL/AFP/Getty

Britain’s King Charles III reacts as he is introduced to an alpaca named Hephner during a walkabout outside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on October 21, 2024.

MARK BAKER/POOL/AFP/Getty

King Charleshad an unexpected encounter with an alpaca while visiting Canberra during hisroyal tour of Australia.

Among the crowd of more than 1,000 well-wishers at the Australian War Memorial on Monday, Oct. 21, Hephner, a 9-year-old alpaca, stood out with his regal attire: a suit, bow tie and a gold crown perched atop his fluffy white head.

Hephner, named in honor of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, waited patiently for hours alongside his owner, Robert Fletcher, to meet the royal couple during their one-day tour of the Australian capital. “One king meets another king,” Fletcher told reporters.

As King Charles andQueen Camillaembarked on a 30-minute walk to greet the crowd, Charles stopped to pat the alpaca. Just as Charles went to pat his head, Hephner sneezed on him, catching the King—and the surrounding crowd—off guard. Charles pulled back, laughing at the unexpected turn of events.

“At least he didn’t spit,” Fletcher quipped.

A royal supporter stands in line with his alpaca to get in to the Australian War Memorial ahead of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King’s visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa will be his first as head of the Commonwealth.

Mark Baker-Pool/Getty

Fletcher, who hails from Goulburn, New South Wales, uses Hephner as a support animal for charities and nursing homes, making the alpaca well-known throughout the Canberra region for his charitable work.

Hephner was given permission to stand on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial for a rare chance at a royal greeting.

Canberra, known for its republican leanings, showed a strong turnout for the royal visit, despite recently extending the term of the Labor-Greens government.

Australian politician Senator Lidia Thorpe and King Charles.Victoria Jones/Shutterstock; Lukas Coch-Pool/Getty

King Charles is heckled by Australian politician Senator Lidia Thorpe shouting before she was escorted away by security King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend Australian Parliament House for Ceremonial Welcome and Parliamentary Reception

Victoria Jones/Shutterstock; Lukas Coch-Pool/Getty

“You destroyed our land, give us a treaty — we want a treaty, we want a treaty with this country,” she continued.

As she was being escorted out, she kept calling out, “This is not your land, This is not your land. You are not my King, you are not our King.”

Queen Camilla and King Charles visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia.Arthur Edwards/Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla and King Charles III visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King’s visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and CHOGM in Samoa will be his first as Head of the Commonwealth.

Arthur Edwards/Pool/Getty

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Also on Monday, Camilla joined a discussion on on family and domestic violence in Australia, one of her key initiatives back home in the U.K. The royal couple also took part in a tree planting ceremony.

source: people.com

King Charles Caught Off Guard by Sneezing Alpaca in Unexpected Royal Tour Moment

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