Governor Margaret Gardner invites King Charles III to Victoria on Australia visit

Victoria’s self-professed republican governor, Margaret Gardner, extended an invitation to King Charles III in her first meeting with the British monarch.

Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner had her first meeting with King Charles overnight.

At the meeting at Buckingham Palace, Her Excellency extended an invitation to King Charles to visit Victoria next year.

It is understood one option being discussed is for the King and Queen Camilla to attend the Spring Carnival in Melbourne in late October.

King Charles III receives the Governor of Victoria, Australia, Professor Margaret Gardner, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London. Picture date: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The King is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on October 21 in Samoa, prompting speculation of a visit to the races as the Spring Carnival reaches its climax with the Cox Plate on October 26, Victoria Derby Day on November 2 and the Melbourne Cup on November 5.

Earlier this month, Herald Sun columnist Alice Coster reported a Melbourne Cup visit was on the cards, almost 40 years after the then Prince of Wales attended the Cup with Princess Diana.

Originally published as Governor Margaret Gardner invites King Charles III to Victoria on Australia visit