Cancer diagnosis throws King Charles’ Australia trip into doubt

King Charles could be set to miss out on his planned trip to Australia following his recent health struggles.

King Charles’ planned trip to Australia has been thrown into doubt following his cancer diagnosis.

The monarch had been expected to Down Under with Queen Camilla as part of a trip in late October.

King Charles shocked the world when he announced that he had cancer earlier this month. Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP.

Following his cancer diagnosis, it’s thought that Charles could potentially have to skip out on the lengthy journey.

However, despite concerns, a Palace source told The Telegraph that the monarch still hopes to make the trip.

The source said: “We continue planning, but we’re not at any stage to confirm timing or dates because it’s the first week of the King’s treatment. It certainly remains the case that he’s hopeful it will go ahead.”

Should the trip go ahead, it will mark the monarch’s first trip Down Under as King, and the first time a ruling monarch has visited since Queen Elizabeth over a decade ago in 2011.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese revealed King Charles’ intention to visit at the beginning of the year during a press conference in January.

A government spokesperson told The Australian: “The Prime Minister enjoys a warm relationship with the King, and looks forward to welcoming His Majesty to Australia later this year.”

The King has had to postpone all public duties at home as he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer discovered by his medical team while he was in treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace has said while Charles will step back from public gatherings he will still perform his constitutional duties as head of state and will meet, in person, regularly with the British Prime Minister. The King’s form of cancer has not been disclosed. But PM Rishi Sunak said it had been “caught early”.

Charles had been planning to come to Australia at the end of the year with his wife. Photo by Yoan VALAT / POOL / AFP.

Prince William has addressed his family’s current health struggles, joking at a charity event in London that he needs to “get away from it all”.

The Prince of Wales made the remark during his speech at a gala dinner in support of London’s Air Ambulance charity.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days – it means a great deal to us all,” he told guests.

“It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus … So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!”