King Charles and Queen Camilla Announce Fall Tour Amid Charles' Recovery

King Charles and Queen Camilla are gearing up for a visit to Australia. Buckingham Palace announced that Charles, 75, and Camilla, 76, will be travelling to Australia and Samoa in the fall.

The tour has been in consideration for some time, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is set to take place in Samoa this year, and Charles was expected to attend the gathering of 56 nations. However, due to his ongoing cancer treatment, aides have been careful with planning his schedule. This will mark Charles' first visit to Australia—a senior member of the Commonwealth—since he ascended to the throne in September 2022.

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To commemorate the announcement, new portraits of the couple wearing their Australian and New Zealand decorations/insignia were released. These portraits, taken by Millie Pilkington in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, were shared.

Buckingham Palace stated that the visit to Australia was at the request of the Australian government. During their stay, the couple will attend various engagements in 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. Although they would typically visit neighbouring New Zealand during such trips, this has been excluded this time based on medical advice. 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."

"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," the spokesperson added.

Buckingham Palace also conveyed the couple’s "warmest thanks and good wishes to all parties for their continued support and understanding." The tour of Australia is relatively limited compared to previous visits, which is also due to Charles' ongoing recovery.

"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," the spokesperson said. "As with all His Majesty’s recent engagements, his program in both countries will be subject to doctors’ advice, and any necessary modifications on health grounds."

Charles resumed public-facing royal duties in late April after revealing his cancer diagnosis in February. The dates for Charles and Camilla’s trip will be announced closer to the time, with the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting starting on 21st October.

–Farheen Ali