King Charles and Camilla face awkward Princess Diana moment during Australian tour

The couple were in Sydney for their tour

King Charles and Queen Camilla were faced with an awkward moment during their royal visit to Australia. A church service in Sydney marked the first full day of events.

The couple were given Australia's first Bible - signed by every member of the Royal Family who has toured the country previously. The historic book belonged to Rev Richard Johnson, the first Christian Minister in Australia.

The late Queen Elizabeth signed the book in 1954 during the first visit of a reigning monarch to Australia. Handing it to Charles, the Archbishop said the Bible 'represents a significant history of this church and nation'.

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Before signing the Bible with his own fountain pen, the King asked: "What day is it again?" He signed the same page that the late Princess of Wales’ signed during the then-couple's 1983 visit, Mirror reports.

The tour marked a turning point in their ill-fated relationship, with Charles understood to have been frustrated over the public’s adoring response towards Diana. After an hour-long service at St Thomas’ Church in northern Sydney, the royals were met with loud cheers from the hundreds gathered on the lawn opposite the church.

A small group of anti-monarchy protestors also gathered outside under a large decolonise banner. But they were drowned out by the well wishers.

Charles said to one person: "It’s a beautiful day” as several people shouted: “We love you." One person said to the Queen: "Hello, I hope your jet leg is getting better."

Charles, 75, and Camilla, 77, also spoke to primary school-aged children from the Thomas’ Sunday school group. They had patiently waited for more than an hour and when officials started arriving, with one boy excitedly shouting: "Are they here?"

Arriving before Their Majesties’, Governor-General Sam Mostyn stopped to speak to the youngsters and said: "What an exciting day for you, I hope you love meeting him, it’s a rare treat."

The children waved their Australian flags as the King and Queen arrived. Camilla, wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, was gifted a posy before they were received by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel and the Bishop of North Sydney, Right Reverend Chris Edwards.

Inside, the Archbishop welcomed the congregation and highlighted St Thomas’ royal history before the Reverend Michael Mantle, Rector of the Parish of North Sydney. Starting by welcoming the royal guests, he said: "It is an enormous honour for us to welcome you to our church this morning."

The theme of the service was 'The Good News About Jesus' and featured hymns Rejoice the Lord is King, Tell Out, My Soul and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Throughout the service, a lone flute could be heard from outside playing 'God Save the King'.