King Charles and Queen Camilla’s ‘possible’ Australia tour plans underway



Key Points
  • Australia is preparing for the possibility of a royal tour by King Charles and Queen Camilla later this year.
  • The Prime Minister confirmed he will begin planning with states and territories this week.
  • It has been unclear whether the royal tour will go ahead following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.
Australia is preparing for possible royal tour by King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the second half of 2024.
The federal government confirmed that it will liaise with states and territories around a possible route later this week.

While the King has scaled back on engagements following his cancer diagnosis, preparations were being made for the monarch’s first visit to Australia since taking the throne.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said plans were already under way on possible logistics for the visit.
“The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis,” he said.
“The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the King had a long connection with Australia, extending from his time attending Geelong Grammar.

“There is an affection for King Charles, I know King Charles has a deep affection for Australia,” he told ABC TV on Monday.

“A royal visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla later in the year would be a really, really tremendous and popular event and I do think that Australians would very much welcome seeing King Charles in our country.”

King Charles’ first Australian royal visit as sovereign

King Charles has made 15 official visits to Australia, most recently in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games, but never while serving as King.
It would be the first visit by a reigning monarch since Queen Elizabeth’s in 2011.

The King has previously travelled to every state and territory, and it’s expected all jurisdictions will make requests for the monarch to visit them.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Sydney was an obvious choice for the King to stop at.

“I mean, this is one of the greatest cities on earth and if you don’t come to Sydney then no one will believe that you came to Australia,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.

King Charles’ battle with cancer

There has been speculation as to whether the royal tour will go ahead, after His Majesty went public with a cancer diagnosis in February.

The British monarch has postponed public duties while he undergoes cancer treatment, which included a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that he will continue to perform his official paperwork, including weekly meetings with the prime minister throughout his treatment.



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