Charles to take doctors (but not homeopath) on Australia trip

The King, who is receiving cancer treatment, will undertake an 11-day tour which includes a number of concessions to prevent him from being overworked.

Dr Michael Dixon, who is known for his interest in homeopathy, is the head of the royal medical household. Picture: BPM/The Times

The King will take two doctors with him on his 11-day trip to Australia and Samoa.

The visit to Sydney and Canberra will be his first to a Commonwealth realm since becoming king. He will pause the cancer treatment he has been having since his diagnosis in February.

Charles will be monitored closely during the visit.

A palace source said the decision to pause treatment and resume it when he returns to Britain followed advice from doctors.

It is understood Michael Dixon, head of the royal medical household and known for his interest in homeopathy, will not be travelling.

Steps taken to support Charles, 75, abroad are understood to be the same as arrangements put in place for the late Queen. They included travelling with a supply of his blood to ensure a match if a transfusion was needed.

Britain's King Charles III in Edinburgh, Scotland, late last month. Picture: Jane Barlow-Pool/Getty Images

As well as travelling with his own doctors, the King will be supported by medical teams during the trip. In Australia, the itinerary has been designed with his health in mind: the King and Queen will have a rest day and there will be no evening engagements.

In Samoa, the King and Queen will arrive in the evening and attend a state dinner.

He will meet Commonwealth heads of government and has had phone calls with leaders in preparation, including the king of Malaysia, the prime minister of Barbados and the president of Zambia.

The meeting of Commonwealth leaders takes place every two years. It will be the first time that the event has been hosted by a Pacific island nation. A cruise ship will accommodate the influx of dignitaries and media.

In April, Buckingham Palace announced the King was “greatly encouraged” by the news from his doctors that he could resume public duties while his treatment continued.

Dixon is a fan of complementary medicine, including aromatherapy and faith healing. Picture: The Times

In the spring, a palace spokesman said that it was “too early to say” how long the treatment would continue but that his doctors were “sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far”.

Although it has not been revealed what type of cancer the King has, it is understood he has been receiving treatment regularly since his diagnosis, even returning to London once a week from Scotland during the summer break.

His first public engagement after resuming work was to visit a cancer-care centre with the Queen. In Australia he is due to visit Sydney Opera House and attend a barbecue. A planned visit to New Zealand was dropped from the tour due to his health.

Instead, Charles has made efforts to meet New Zealanders in other ways.

Speaking to the country’s women’s rugby team during a reception at Buckingham Palace last month, he said: “I’m extremely sorry I can’t come to New Zealand in later October – it’s on doctors’ orders. But I hope there will be another excuse [to visit] before too long. In the meantime, give my love to New Zealand.”

The Times