Horse-loving King Charles open for The Everest but Melbourne Cup ruled out
While King Charles III has been forced to scale back this year’s Australian tour, a change in dates means the horse-loving King can make a trip to The Everest at Royal Randwick.
NSW
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Exclusive: King Charles III has been forced to scale back his Australian tour later this year – and Sydney will be the winner.
A change in dates means the horse-loving King can make a trip to The Everest at Royal Randwick but will miss the Melbourne Cup.
A planned visit to New Zealand has also been cancelled on doctor’s orders.
The King, 75, is still receiving weekly cancer treatment after being diagnosed in February and has been urged by his doctors to “rein in his commitments”.
England’s Daily Mirror newspaper reported overnight that King Charles will visit Australia for six days prior to attending the Commonwealth Heads Of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Samoa starting on October 21.
Although the royal tour’s itinerary has not been finalised, it gives King Charles and Queen Camilla the opportunity to attend Sydney’s The Everest on October 19 but rules out the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said His Majesty has been “officially invited” to present the trophy for the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick on Everest Day.
“We are extremely hopeful The King can be at Randwick on October 19,’’ V’landys said.
“We have been working on this for 12 months and have been in communication with Buckingham Palace.
“At the moment it is all looking very promising as The Everest race meeting fits in with The King’s schedule.’’
V’landys and then-Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding were in England last year and personally spoke with The King about attending the 2024 The Everest race day after announcing the introduction of the King Charles III Stakes.
Racing NSW was the first racing jurisdiction in the world to name a race in The King’s honour. Royal Ascot officials renamed the King’s Stand Stakes to the King Charles III Stakes this year.
The King’s principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, has been in Sydney this week to undertake advanced planning for the royal tour.
It is understood senior Minns government officials have been lobbying for King Charles to visit Sydney.
The Mirror reported the King’s Australian leg of the tour will be scaled back to around six days with a break of about two days before he travels to Samoa for three days.
“Naturally, it will be a bitter disappointment on both sides to not have the opportunity for the King and Queen to visit New Zealand,’’ a source told The Mirror.
“But, of course all are aware of the King’s ongoing health and the need for him to pace himself. It’s very much hoped there will be further opportunities in the future.’’
Charles has already made 15 visits here, his most recent in 2018 to open the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
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