King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate all in the mix to mark 2024 bicentenary

Talks are already underway to organise a royal visit to Sydney but who exactly is coming? See which royals are in the mix.

King Charles or Prince William and Princess Kate — or perhaps all three — could be on the verge of locking in a visit to Sydney in 2024, after months of negotiations between the NSW Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

To mark the bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council, discussions have been held regarding a Royal opening of State Parliament as has been performed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 and 1992 and by the then Prince Charles in 1974.

Only six days before the Queen’s death, President of the NSW Legislative Council Matthew Mason-Cox was granted an audience at Balmoral with Prince Charles, who was delighted to engage with the discussion of a proposed Royal visit.

“He was delightful and has such a passion and a high regard for Australia” says Mason-Cox.

“After all he went to school here, surfed Bondi Beach, he’s right at home.”

King Charles would be “right at home” in Sydney. Picture: Ben Stansall / POOL / AFP

King Charles’ arrival in Sydney would make him the first English King to set foot on Australian soil. Further, the culmination of a Royal visit would end with the 2024 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Sydney represented by 57 member countries, an ideal moment for the presence of Prince William and Princess Kate.

“With the recent passing of the Queen, itineraries for the Royals are being redrawn,’’ Mason-Cox said.

“You never know if the Prince and Princess will be here for the Bicentenary. There are stories they may visit Australia as early as next year.’’

2024 will mark 200 years since a committee of five lawmakers gathered at Sydney’s first Government House on the corner of Bridge and Phillip Streets. Ultimately, they set in train for Australia to become one of the most successful, robust and enviable democracies in the world.

NSW Parliament and Legislative Council chamber Royal visit in 1992 – Her Late Majesty entering the gates of NSW Parliament. Picture Credit: NSW Parliament Collection

At Parliament House on Tuesday, a two-year program will be launched to celebrate and reflect on how Australia’s first and oldest lawmaking body evolved and flourished from a simple bill presented at the House of Commons — the NSW Act of 1823 — to become the democratic governmental system we so often take for granted.

It was devised to safeguard the people of NSW from autocratic rule, a mechanism to en-sure no one person holds unfettered control, a serious concern in colonial times when an appointed Governor’s power was absolute, yet the Council’s charter is still the same today.

Since its formation in 1824, the NSW Legislative Council has seen many colourful Sydney identities in its ranks, undergone multiple reforms, and survived numerous attempts to see the institution abolished.

Originally published as King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate all in the mix to mark 2024 bicentenary