King Charles III poised to attend $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick in October
In a boon for Sydney’s flagship The Everest race day in October, hope is growing that King Charles will attend the meeting which also features the King Charles III Stakes.
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KING Charles III is scaling back his proposed Australian visit later this year but is still a chance to attend The Everest race meeting at Royal Randwick in October.
His Majesty will tour Australia and Samoa but a planned visit to New Zealand has 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”.
READ: Melbourne Cup visit on cards for King Charles after Royal Ascot woo
England’s Daily Mirror newspaper reported overnight that King Charles will visit Australia for six days prior to attending the Commonwealth Heads Of Government 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 The 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 Chris Minns Government officials have been lobbying for The King to visit Sydney in October.
The Mirror reported the King’s Australian leg of the tour will be scaled back to around six days with a break lasting up to two days before His Majesty 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.’’
The King’s Australian visit will be the first time a sovereign has visited this country since Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.
King Charles has already made 15 visits to Australia, his last being in 2018 to open the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Royal sources said the King is “absolutely determined” to attend CHOGM in Samoa.
Originally published as King Charles III poised to attend $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick in October
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