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King Charles Just Made a Historic Appearance—But I Can't Believe What Was Sitting on the Table Waiting for Him

Talk about a royal throwback

king charles surprised
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

King Charles and Queen Camilla (in her repeating white outfits) may have been the royal family members on a historic tour this week, but that doesn't mean Prince William didn't make a surprise appearance of his own.

For the first time since announcing his cancer diagnosis—and for the first time as monarch—the king took part in an overseas tour to Australia and Samoa for eight days of royal duties. But during one of his stops in Sydney, the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, a special photo was sitting on display waiting for him—and it featured none other than his eldest son, William.

prince william framed photo
Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images

The photograph, which sits in a well-worn frame, shows a much younger Prince of Wales from a previous visit to Australia. Though the throwback image isn't dated, it is most likely from his 2010 stopover in Sydney.

In 2010, after spending three days in New Zealand for his first-ever official overseas visit, Prince William hopped over to Australia with the goal of learning more about the indigenous community. It's likely during this appearance that the newly resurfaced image was snapped.

prince william australia
Krystle Wright/Pool/Getty Images

However, this 2010 appearance wasn't William's first time visiting Australia. In fact, that happened wayyyy back in 1983 alongside (or more accurately in the arms of) his mother, Princess Diana, and his father, then-Prince Charles. (Fans of The Crown will remember that the Diana-Charles Australia and New Zealand tour was a major plotline in season four of the Netflix series.)

princess diana prince charles prince william
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Obviously, William was a mere baby during this initial royal tour. But the nation clearly became important enough to him that he returned in 2010 and then again in 2014 for a three-week royal tour alongside his wife, Kate Middleton. And in a moment that mirrored his own first visit, newborn Prince George came along for the ride (no that's not Prince George in the picture below, you guys...that's a koala).

kate middleton prince william koala
Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

We love seeing the Prince of Wales pop up unexpectedly on a royal tour—even if it is only in photo form.

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VP, News and Entertainment

  • Oversees news and entertainment content
  • Is an award-winning playwright and has hosted two entertainment podcasts
  • Has 10+ years experience in entertainment coverage and viral media

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