Minutes after a drenching downpour came to an end at Sydney airport, King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped on to Australian soil for their first visit as reigning monarchs.

The five-day trip is the couple’s first Australian visit since the King ascended to the throne in 2022 and the first by a reigning monarch since his mother Queen Elizabeth toured the country in 2011.

King Charles, who has paused treatment for an undisclosed cancer to travel south, was greeted along with his queen by his Australian representative, governor-general Sam Mostyn, and her husband Simeon Beckett.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, both staunch republicans, dipped their heads before shaking the 75-year-old sovereign’s hand.

Alongside Albanese was his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, who appeared to share a laugh with the king.

Also in the welcome party was a 12-year-old boy called Ky from near Adelaide whose dream of meeting the royals was granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

He presented a small bunch of flowers to Queen Camilla and had a conversation with the couple before the monarchs were driven away in a motorcade.

King Charles and Queen Camilla posted on X on Friday night that they were “really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special”.

The royals are expected to use Saturday to recover from their long journey from Britain via Singapore.

They will meet Albanese and Haydon at Admiralty House in Sydney before formally commencing their Australian tour on Sunday.