Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a tour of Australia and Samoa this October, Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday. The trip marks King Charles’ first visit to a Commonwealth realm since ascending the throne.
The royal couple’s itinerary includes engagements in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, at the invitation of the Australian government. This will be King Charles’ first trip to Australia in six years, his last visit being for the opening of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
In addition to Australia, Charles and Camilla will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa. This biennial event, themed “One Resilient Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth,” will gather delegations from the 56 member states. This year’s CHOGM will be King Charles’ first as head of the organization.
The palace highlighted that the visit to Samoa aims to celebrate the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and the Pacific Island nation.
Since resuming public duties in April while undergoing cancer treatment, King Charles has maintained a busy schedule. Recently, he attended D-Day commemorations in France, appointed Keir Starmer as the UK’s Prime Minister, and marked 25 years of Welsh devolution during a visit to the Welsh parliament in Cardiff. The royal couple will also visit the Channel Islands for a two-day tour this week.
Further details about the upcoming tours will be revealed in the coming months. However, a palace spokesperson emphasized that King Charles’ schedule in both countries will be subject to doctors’ advice, with potential modifications for health reasons.
The decision not to include New Zealand in this tour was made following medical advice to avoid an extended program to prioritize the King’s continued recovery. The palace spokesperson noted that this decision was made in consultation with the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers, taking into account time and logistical constraints.
“Their Majesties send their warmest thanks and good wishes to all parties for their continued support and understanding,” the palace added.
