Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla give the Gold Coast a right royal snub
WHILE Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla gave the Gold Coast a healthy dose of exposure with visits to the Commonwealth Games and other destinations, they weren’t all to keen for an overnight stay. Why?
Confidential
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PRINCE Charles and Duchess Camilla gave Gold Coast hotels a right royal snubbing during their Queensland tour.
While the couple gave the region a healthy dose of exposure with visits to the Commonwealth Games, Kurrawa Beach, Bundaberg Rum Distillery, the Great Barrier Reef and Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, there was one place they didn’t visit — a Gold Coast hotel room.
Instead they stayed at Government House in Brisbane, the official royal residence for Queensland.
It meant the extravagant motorcades that accompanied the royals around the southeast travelled an hour up the M1 each night instead of staying at a local hotel or resort.
It is understood the Royal couple had a room reserved at the Sheraton at Main Beach for emergent purposes, but they stayed the nights of their southeast Queensland leg in Brisbane.
As would be expected, the Royal Family has a high-level security requirement, but so does the Prime Minister, who stayed at hotels on the Gold Coast during his Commonwealth Games commitments.
Various state government ministers have also stayed at hotels on the Gold Coast during the Games.
Kate Jones, Queensland’s minister for both tourism and the Games, said the Royal delegation’s decision to overlook Gold Coast hotels was not an issue.
“We’re grateful that we’ve had two royal visits here on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“I’m advised that this decision was related to security.
“But at the end of the day, the exposure the Gold Coast has received through these visits is more important for the Coast.”
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter was also diplomatic.
“Whatever Royal protocol they have in place has to be respected,” he said.
“It would have been great for them to experience a bit more Gold Coast hospitality, but hopefully if they come back they can stay somewhere a bit closer to our world-class beaches.”
Originally published as Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla give the Gold Coast a right royal snub
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