Camilla cradles a baby kangaroo during Outback visit

Camilla cradles a baby kangaroo in the outback Queensland town of Longreach. Credit: Reuters

The Duchess of Cornwall cradled an orphaned kangaroo joey in her arms as the Royal Jubilee tour arrived in the Australian Outback.

Camilla scratched the 12-month-old Rooby Blue under its chin during a visit to the remote rural settlement of Longreach.

She said: "Oh hello.

"Very friendly. Doesn't it look pretty?

She added: "There's a first time for everything."

Charles also took an interest and gave the joey a pat on the head as Camilla said: "That's so sweet."

The Prince of Wales also became a bushwhacker for a day, wearing the akubra hat, usually worn by rural workers.

Prince Charles wears an akubra hat as he meets the public in the outback Queensland town of Longreach. Credit: Reuters

And the royal couple visited the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, a heritage centre remembering cattle pioneers who developed the outback.

At times, the duchess sheltered under a parasol as temperatures topped a blistering 40C.

She said the burning sun produced "a nice dry heat" in comparison with Papua New Guinea, where the royals began their Diamond Jubilee tour at the weekend.