King Charles, Queen Camilla will visit Australia, Buckingham Palace confirms

London: The King and Queen will visit Australia this October for the first time since their accession to the throne, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

In an official statement on Monday, the palace said the tour, which has been widely speculated on for months, would be shorter than first planned on doctors’ orders as Charles III recovers from cancer treatment.

Charles and Camilla will make their first visit to Australia as king and queen in October. Credit: Chris Jackson/PA

The visit, the first by a reigning monarch to Australia since Elizabeth II in 2011, will likely take in only Canberra and Sydney - skipping Melbourne - before heading to Samoa to join the leaders of 56 Commonwealth nations for the biennial heads of government meeting.

The 75-year-old began a “schedule of regular treatments” in February after cancer was discovered when he spent three nights in hospital for an unrelated procedure for an enlarged prostate. The palace has not revealed what kind of cancer the King has, nor what treatment he has been receiving.

A palace spokesman said the King’s doctors had advised that extended program should be avoided to prioritise his continued recovery.

King Charles and Queen Camilla, wearing a Wattle Brooch gifted to the Elizabeth II during her visit to Australia in 1954, posed for a official portrait marking their upcoming tour. Credit: Millie Pilkington

“In close consultation with the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers, and with due regard for the pressures of time and logistics, it has therefore been agreed to limit the visit to Samoa and Australia only,” he said. “Their Majesties send their warmest thanks and good wishes to all parties for their continued support and understanding.”

British media has reported that Charles was determined to make the trip, especially to CHOGM, given his son, Prince William, was unable to replace him due to his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales’s own health struggles.

Charles has made 15 official visits to Australia and visited every state and territory, with his most recent visit in 2018 taken to open the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. The country has a special place in the King’s heart, having studied for a happy six months at the Timbertop, Geelong Grammar School in Victoria.

Both William and his brother, Prince Harry, have visited Australia with their own families in recent years.

His tour is expected to take in visit to parliaments in both Sydney and Canberra, the former of which has undergone a $22 million renovations to mark 200 years since the Legislative Council was opened. State premiers and chief ministers have also been invited to attend a function to meet the royal couple in Canberra.

The palace has held off with formal dates because of questions over his health, saying further details of the program in both countries would be announced in due course.

As Head of Commonwealth, he would ordinarily be expected at the heads of government meeting for the week beginning October 21.

“As with all His Majesty’s recent engagements, his programme in both countries will be subject to doctors’ advice, and any necessary modifications on health grounds,” a spokesman said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the King had a “deep regard for our great nation”, had always spoken warmly of the time spent there and “the astounding beauty of our extraordinary continent”.

“I look forward welcoming The King and Queen back to Australia for this important visit,” he said.

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