The King has marked the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa to its Traditional Owners during a celebration at the Australian High Commission.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is considered one of the most striking and culturally iconic places in Australia.
Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa are separate large geological rock formations, which are sacred sites for Aṉangu, the First Nations people of the region.
In 1976, the Australian Parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, meaning that First Nations peoples could claim land where traditional ownership could be proven.
The King has marked the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa to its Traditional Owners during a celebration at the Australian High Commission.
|PA
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The Hawke Government handed back the title deeds for the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park to Aṉangu on 26 October 1985.
The ceremony to return the title took place at the base of Uluṟu, where hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people saw then-Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen pass over the title deeds to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa.
As part of the same ceremony, Aṉangu signed an agreement to lease the park back to the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service, establishing a joint management arrangement for a period of ninety-nine years.
This morning, the King was welcomed to Australia House by the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith, before proceeding to the Downer Room.
This morning, the King was welcomed by the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith, at Australia House before proceeding to the Downer Room.
|GETTY
King Charles then met nine Aṉangu Traditional Owners who have travelled from Australia, with the support of the High Commission, to mark this historic occasion.
After speaking to the Traditional Owners, the King joined guests who had gathered to watch a traditional performance by Aṉangu and a short film to mark the 40th anniversary of Handback.
The King then met a group of guests who had travelled from Australia to support the Aṉangu community.
The Traditional Owners of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park speak Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara, and they refer to themselves as Aṉangu.
King Charles then met nine Aṉangu Traditional Owners who have travelled from Australia, with the support of the High Commission, to mark this historic occasion.
|PA
These language groups are very distinct, but they mutually understand each other and can speak other languages across many communities.
In their languages, they collectively call themselves Aṉangu, meaning “people”.
Aṉangu will mark the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa at a public celebration concert on October 25th.
The celebration will be held at the Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku sunrise site.
The King has made 17 trips to Australia, most recently with Queen Camilla in 2024, when they visited New South Wales. During the visit, the royals marked the 200th Anniversary of New South Wales Parliament.
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