In a twist of events during King Charles III’s royal visit to Australia, an unlikely star emerged – a sneezing alpaca named Hephner. The fluffy encounter at Parliament House in Canberra captured media attention, overshadowing even a protest by Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe.
Alpaca Antics Amuse Amidst Royal Rigmarole
As King Charles made his way through the usual pomp and ceremony of a royal tour, Hephner the alpaca provided an unexpected dose of levity. Sources close to the event reported that upon meeting the King, the excited alpaca let out a mighty sneeze, giving His Majesty a “right royal spray.”
The amusing moment quickly went viral, with social media users dubbing it the highlight of the King’s five-day visit. One witty commentator quipped, “The King was met not with a bow, but a sneeze, when greeted by his fluffiest fan.”
Senator’s Protest Takes Back Seat
The alpaca antics somewhat overshadowed a dramatic protest by Senator Lidia Thorpe earlier in the visit. Thorpe, wearing a traditional possum-skin cloak, confronted the King shouting “You are not our king” – a moment that made front page news in the UK.
However, many Australian papers, including the Sydney Morning Herald, opted to feature the sneezing alpaca on their front pages instead. As one reader noted, “The highlights or lowlights, depending on your view, were the sneezing alpaca, who gave his majesty a right royal spray, and Lidia Thorpe, who gave him an even bigger spray.”
No Royal Randwick Visit Despite “Big Tip”
Another much-anticipated moment that didn’t eventuate was King Charles’ rumored visit to Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney. Despite one tabloid’s “big tip” about the potential appearance, the King sent his apologies.
Insiders speculated that the Monarch may have preferred to avoid any potential gaffes at the races, especially after the mini-scandal of an Anzac biscuit being referred to as a “cookie” on an official royal menu.
Sneezing Alpaca: Accidental Icon of Royal Visit
As the royal visit wrapped up, it was clear that Hephner the alpaca had made an indelible impression. Social media was abuzz with memes and jokes about the sneezing camelid, with many suggesting he should be appointed as the King’s official Australian mascot.
“In a time of royal scandals and controversies, we could all use more wholesome moments like a sneezing alpaca meeting the King. It’s the content we never knew we needed!”
– Social media user’s viral tweet
As King Charles continues his reign, Australians will undoubtedly remember his first visit as much for the cheeky alpaca as for any regal ceremony. In Hephner, Australia may just have found an unlikely new national treasure – one sneeze at a time.
