King Charles and Queen Camilla are gearing up for a visit to Australia. On Sunday, July 14, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the 75-year-old monarch and his 76-year-old wife will be traveling to Australia and Samoa in the fall.
This tour has been anticipated for some time, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is set to take place in Samoa this year.
Charles, who has been expected to attend the gathering of 56 nations, has had his plans carefully considered by aides due to his ongoing cancer treatment.
This will mark Charles’s first visit to Australia—a key member of the Commonwealth—since ascending to the throne in September 2022.
To commemorate the announcement, new portraits of the couple wearing their Australian and New Zealand decorations were released.
The photos, taken in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Millie Pilkington, were shared on Sunday.
The visit to Australia comes at the request of the Australian government, according to Buckingham Palace.
Charles and Camilla will participate in engagements across the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.
In Samoa, they will celebrate the strong bilateral relationship between the Pacific Island nation and the U.K.
Typically, Charles and Camilla would include New Zealand in such a tour, but medical advice has prevented this. A spokesperson explained,
“The King’s doctors have advised that such an extended program should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery.”
The spokesperson added that the decision to limit the trip to Australia and Samoa was made in close consultation with the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers, taking into account time and logistical constraints.
Buckingham Palace expressed the couple’s gratitude, saying they “send their warmest thanks and good wishes to all parties for their continued support and understanding.”
The tour to Australia is more restricted compared to previous visits, also due to Charles’s health considerations. The palace spokesperson stated,
“The King’s doctors have advised that a further extension to Their Majesties’ trip should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery.”
As with all recent engagements, his schedule in both countries will be subject to medical guidance and may be adjusted based on health needs.
King Charles resumed public royal duties in late April after announcing his cancer diagnosis in February.
The specific dates for Charles and Camilla’s visit will be disclosed closer to the time. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is set to commence on October 21.
