Photo exposes what everyone missed in King Charles’ Opera House visit in Sydney
As 10,000 Aussies waited patiently outside the Sydney Opera House for the King and Queen to arrive, most were unaware that two police snipers were watching their every move.
Some eagle-eyed Royals fans spotted the snipers on Tuesday, one on top of one of the Opera House’s sails and the second on top of a nearby building.
The snipers were dressed in black, with a scarf covering half their faces. They also wore black caps and sunglasses.
Similar police snipers were spotted atop the Australian War Memorial during Their Majesties’ visit to Canberra on Monday.
A police helicopter was also seen flying over the Opera House as the King and Queen emerged.
The high level of security has a good reason: Charles was once shot with a starting pistol by 23-year-old student David Kang during a visit to Sydney in 1994.
The then prince, who was in Sydney for Australia Day, remained remarkably calm as Kang, who is now a lawyer, was tackled to the ground by security.
As 10,000 Aussies waited patiently outside the Sydney Opera House for the King and Queen to arrive, most were unaware that two police snipers were watching their every move.
The sniper can be seen just above the crowd on one of the sails of the Sydney Opera House
Two snipers kept an eye on the crowds at the Opera House on Tuesday
The snipers were dressed in black, with a scarf covering half their faces. They also wore black caps and sunglasses.
The king appeared only slightly disturbed when two shots were fired and was praised as ‘His royal composure’ as he dusted himself off and continued his speech in Sydney’s Tumbalong Park.
Kang later said he carried out the stunt to highlight the plight of Cambodian asylum seekers held in detention camps in Australia.
He was arrested before being found guilty of threatening unlawful violence and sentenced to 500 hours of community service.
Footage of the incident showed Charles reacting to the shots before Kang – wearing a white T-shirt and jeans – climbed onto the stage as shocked schoolchildren and other attendees looked on.
The King’s bodyguard, Chief Inspector Colin Trimming, was seen rushing his boss aside before returning to the gunman to assess the threat.
Charles was not injured during the ordeal.
A sniper is seen on one of the sails as the king and queen arrived
The snipers formed a large police presence during the royal visit to Australia