Wood attended the accession council at St James’s Palace, representing Australia, where Charles was officially proclaimed King on Saturday.

She was one of the many attendees, which included former UK prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson as well as Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has been in the job for six days. They each signed the proclamation papers.

“What has really struck me these past few days is the solemnity here in London and the regard with which his majesty is held and the strong support that is already there for King Charles III,” Wood said.

Wood said she was looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley to London later this week. The pair will attend the Queen’s funeral.

On Monday, Charles will accept a condolence motion from MPs at Westminster Hall. Wood has been granted access to a front-row seat in the royal box to attend.

Those who are granted private audiences with the monarch are asked never to disclose the contents of their private conversations.

While Wood has not divulged anything of great detail, the fact that she has chosen to speak publicly, about what is the first Australian’s contact with the new monarch, suggests the Palace is keen to bed down good relations with the country, following the new Labor government’s appointment of the first-ever minister for a republic, albeit, junior.

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