King Charles III is set to visit Australia and Samoa in October, an ambitious trip that will cover 12 time zones and challenge the monarch’s endurance as he continues to recover from his recent cancer treatment. The palace announced the visit on Sunday, signaling a significant step for the 75-year-old king, who has been gradually resuming his public duties following a hiatus due to his cancer diagnosis in early February.
Although the itinerary in Australia will be “limited,” the decision to undertake such an extensive trip points towards Charles’ ongoing recovery. The visit to Australia will be a pivotal moment for the king as he seeks to bolster support for the monarchy both domestically and internationally, the Associated Press reported.
This trip will be the first time Charles visits one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state since his ascension to the throne. While this connection is a source of pride for some, it is an unwelcome reminder of Britain’s colonial dominance for others.
Despite the anticipated welcome from supporters waving flags and singing “God Save the King,” Charles is also likely to encounter anti-monarchy sentiments in a nation where 45% of voters supported the creation of an Australian republic in a 1999 referendum.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party advocates for abolishing the monarchy, although the government maintains that it is not a priority and has not set a timeline for another referendum.
The palace has provided limited details about the tour, saying that Charles and Camilla will visit the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, as well as making a more formal state visit to Samoa, where the king will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The capital territory is home to Canberra, Australia’s national capital, while Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is located in New South Wales. The annual heads of government meeting will take place from October 21-25.
However, the trip will not include a visit to New Zealand, as the palace 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.”
Isaac Jeffrey, national director and CEO of the Australian Republic Movement, called for a meeting with Charles and questioned the justification for Australia to fund the royal visit. He said, “This visit is a great opportunity for all Australians to ask themselves whether the British Royals really represent a modern Aussie democracy.”
The trip comes at a time when the health issues of Charles and Kate, the Princess of Wales, have underscored the challenges faced by a streamlined royal family as the king pledges to reduce costs. With fewer working royals available to carry out the endless round of public engagements that make up the life of a modern royal, the remaining family members have been required to take on more events.
The Princess of Wales, one of the most popular royals, underwent abdominal surgery and later revealed that she, too, had cancer, while Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family.
Although the itinerary in Australia will be “limited,” the decision to undertake such an extensive trip points towards Charles’ ongoing recovery. The visit to Australia will be a pivotal moment for the king as he seeks to bolster support for the monarchy both domestically and internationally, the Associated Press reported.
This trip will be the first time Charles visits one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state since his ascension to the throne. While this connection is a source of pride for some, it is an unwelcome reminder of Britain’s colonial dominance for others.
Despite the anticipated welcome from supporters waving flags and singing “God Save the King,” Charles is also likely to encounter anti-monarchy sentiments in a nation where 45% of voters supported the creation of an Australian republic in a 1999 referendum.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party advocates for abolishing the monarchy, although the government maintains that it is not a priority and has not set a timeline for another referendum.
The palace has provided limited details about the tour, saying that Charles and Camilla will visit the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, as well as making a more formal state visit to Samoa, where the king will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The capital territory is home to Canberra, Australia’s national capital, while Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is located in New South Wales. The annual heads of government meeting will take place from October 21-25.
However, the trip will not include a visit to New Zealand, as the palace 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.”
Isaac Jeffrey, national director and CEO of the Australian Republic Movement, called for a meeting with Charles and questioned the justification for Australia to fund the royal visit. He said, “This visit is a great opportunity for all Australians to ask themselves whether the British Royals really represent a modern Aussie democracy.”
The trip comes at a time when the health issues of Charles and Kate, the Princess of Wales, have underscored the challenges faced by a streamlined royal family as the king pledges to reduce costs. With fewer working royals available to carry out the endless round of public engagements that make up the life of a modern royal, the remaining family members have been required to take on more events.
The Princess of Wales, one of the most popular royals, underwent abdominal surgery and later revealed that she, too, had cancer, while Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family.