King Charles’s London Commemoration Ties a Global Spotlight to Uluru’s 40-Year Milestone
In a symbolic moment that bridged continents and histories, King Charles attended a commemoration in London marking the 40th anniversary of the Uluru handback. The ceremony, held at Australia House, brought together Anangu—the traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park—and a delegation of nine Anangu leaders who traveled from Australia for the occasion. This event, hosted during the king’s first visit to the Australian embassy in his reign, underscores the enduring significance of land rights and Aboriginal sovereignty in the country’s broader narrative.
Four Decades of Change: From Legislation to a Living Tradition
The arc of Uluru’s handback began long before the marble floors of Australia House welcomed the Anangu visitors. In 1976, Australia passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, creating the legal pathway for Indigenous communities to claim land where traditional ownership could be proven. Nine years later, the Hawke government handed back the title deeds for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a landmark concession that altered the landscape of Australian property rights and Indigenous governance.
Speaking through an interpreter, Sammy Wilson—accompanied by fellow traditional owner Harry Wilson—expressed the complex mix of emotions felt by many at the ceremony, saying the moment brings both tears and happiness. The symbolism, he noted, extends far beyond a single plot of land: it marks a recognition of Anangu law and a crucial step in preserving cultural knowledge for generations to come.
Official Reflections on a Royal Presence
Stephen Smith, Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, highlighted the significance of King Charles’s attendance. He described the monarch’s presence as a sign of profound respect for Anangu and for the intertwined histories of Australia and the Crown. In discussing royal anniversaries, Smith noted that such public acknowledgments are relatively rare, even for a palace that tends to mark longer horizons—50 or 100 years—rather than a four-decade milestone.
A Community’s Journey: Ownership, Governance, and the Future of Uluru
The enduring partnership between Anangu and Australia’s national park governance structure is a frequent focus at commemorations. Tapaya Edwards, chair of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park board of management, reiterated a forward-looking vision: Uluru should be a place where Tjukurpa (Anangu law and culture) remains strong for future generations. He emphasized a dual path of knowledge exchange, combining Anangu traditional knowledge with Western scientific practices to care for country and sustain cultural learning.
Over the past 40 years, the Anangu have gradually strengthened their connections to Uluru and its landscape. The 1985 handback did not merely transfer title; it invited a living relationship with country, one that requires ongoing work, dialogue, and youth involvement. The community’s hope is that the next four decades will see more young Anangu carrying the flame of Aṉangu knowledge into leadership roles and continuing to integrate traditional and contemporary conservation methods.
Royal Rumor Mill and a Possible Return
This anniversary has also fed speculation about a future royal visit to Uluru. The Anangu delegation in London recalled previous royal forays to the park, including a 1983 visit by King Charles and a later trip by Prince William and Princess Catherine in 2014. Sammy Wilson recalled guiding Kate and William on a tour of Uluru in prior years, and the delegation’s memories have fueled talk of a royal return on country. While officials described such plans as contingent on palace decisions, the sentiment among Anangu remains hopeful that a future visit may indeed occur.
In the immediate term, the Anangu will travel home to Australia to welcome Prime Minister and national dignitaries for anniversary celebrations on communal land, where the symbolism of land rights and cultural guardianship will be publicly reaffirmed.
As Australia continues to navigate the balance between land rights, heritage protection, and national identity, the Uluru handback’s 40th anniversary serves as a potent reminder of how history, law, and living culture intersect on a landscape that remains central to Indigenous Australia.
