King Charles’ visit to Australia comes amid revived debate over whether the country should break ties with the British monarchy.

Indigenous lawmaker Lidia Thorpe was removed from an event at Australia’s parliament after accusing the British royal family of “genocide” and stealing land.

King Charles and Queen Camilla flew to Australia's capital Canberra on Monday where crowds gathered for their first visit to the city in almost a decade. Charles' 16th official visit to Australia, where he attended school for six months as a teenager in 1966,

Charles, on his 16th official visit to Australia and his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer, had finished speaking when independent senator and Indigenous activist Lidia Thorpe shouted that she did not accept Charles' sovereignty over Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanes, who wants the country to become a republic with an Australian head of state, welcomed Charles on his first visit as king.

An Indigenous senator told King Charles III that Australia is not his land as the British royal visited Australia’s parliament on Monday.