In early February, it was revealed that King Charles III is still “hopeful” that his planned visit to Australia in October 2024 will go ahead, despite his recent cancer diagnosis.
“We continue planning, but we’re not at any stage to confirm timing or dates because it’s the first week of the King’s treatment. It certainly remains the case that he’s hopeful it will go ahead,” a Palace source divulged to The Telegraph.
Now, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia is preparing for a possible visiting from King Charles this year.
WATCH NOW: King Charles meets with British Prime Minister Liz Truss. Article continues after video.
“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,” Mr Albanese said.
“The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia. My Government is engaging with States and Territories on options for a possible Royal visit.”
Speaking with the Sydney Morning Herald in early December 2023, a government insider hinted that the King would be joined by his wife, Queen Camilla.
“King Charles is planning to visit Australia and New Zealand in October,” they shared at the time.
After months of speculation, in January 2024, a government spokesman told The Australian that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “enjoyed a warm relationship with the King” and was looking forward “to welcoming His Majesty later this year.”
The tour would likely coincide with the bicentenary of the NSW Legislative Council and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which will take place in Samoa on October 21st.
Held bi-yearly, the CHOGM brings together 56 developed and developing nations from across the Commonwealth.
It is currently unclear if the King will visit Australia prior to or following the meeting, and where else he may visit apart from Sydney.
That exciting news came just days after Camilla’s food critic son Tom Parker Bowles shared that Australia was on the agenda for the royal couple with local press.
“He’s coming next year, I think,” he told both The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald in December 2023, adding that he “didn’t really know” any further details.
“There’s always a royal tour somewhere. I always assumed that Australia was a very important place to visit.”
A potential visit down under was discussed prior to Charles’ ascension to the throne after his mother’s passing in early September 2022, with the President of the NSW Legislative Council Matthew Mason-Cox.
The new monarch appears to favour Australia after visiting 16 times since 1966. But it will be King Charles’ first visit since 2018 for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
His royal visit will mark an important occasion as it will be the first time a reigning King has visited Australia following Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
A reigning monarch has not visited our shores since Queen Elizabeth’s trip in October 2011 which was dubbed as her ‘farewell tour’ by royal watchers. The late Queen opened the new Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, right next to the former Royal Children’s Hospital she opened in 1963.
Queen Elizabeth II made Australian history in 1954 after becoming the first reigning monarch to visit, and she continued to visit another 16 times.
The news of King Charles’ visit follows speculation that Prince William and Kate Middleton could be returning to Australia after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he hoped to host the couple and their children at some point in the not-so-distant future.
WATCH NOW: The Royal Family appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after King Charles has been crowned. Article continues after video.
Prince William reportedly wants to take his family to some of his grandmother’s favourite places.
“It’s been a year of upheaval for the children, and the family are looking to make some happy memories and take them on a big adventure,” says a palace insider.
“William and Kate loved their first tour to Australia in 2014, which was where baby Prince George undertook his first public engagements.
