King Charles to visit Australia amid ongoing cancer treatments
Royal couple to attend up to ten events daily on nine-day tour
King Charles and Queen Camilla will engage in up to ten events daily during their official visit to Australia and Samoa next month, despite the King’s ongoing cancer treatment.
Aides have adjusted his schedule to prioritise his health, including fewer evening events and a rest day upon arrival in Sydney. However, King Charles is not planning to slow down.
Buckingham Palace did not confirm if the King will continue his weekly treatment when he arrives in Australia on October 18 but stated that his current treatment is progressing well.
🇦🇺 🇼🇸 Details of King & Queen’s Royal Tour to Australia & Samoa announced.
Shorter than usual, fewer days of engagements & evening events curtailed to take account of Charles’ cancer.
State Visit to Samoa includes opening ceremony of Commonwealth summit 👇 https://t.co/fIZGLCwMiv
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 10, 2024
The 75-year-old King and 77-year-old Queen will maintain a busy schedule following a challenging year for the King, who was diagnosed with cancer in January.
The King has continued his duties during treatment, but this nine-day journey, covering over 30,000 miles, will be his most demanding yet.
A royal official mentioned careful consideration in balancing the King’s schedule and prioritising engagements. They also revealed that a planned stop in New Zealand was cancelled based on medical advice.
To respect Australia’s indigenous communities, the term ‘walkabout’ will not be used during this tour. Instead, official descriptions will refer to ‘opportunities to meet the public.’
In Aboriginal culture, ‘walkabout’ refers to travelling on foot during significant life changes. This change marks the first time the term has been altered for a royal visit, despite numerous past visits.
This trip will be the King’s 17th visit to Australia and his first as head of state since becoming King two years ago. It will include stops in Sydney and Canberra before heading to Samoa for his first state visit there. In Samoa, he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as its titular head, his first visit since his Navy days.
A Palace spokesman explained the need to preserve Their Majesties’ energies and noted that a planned visit to New Zealand was cancelled based on medical advice and consultations with Australian and New Zealand governments.
In Australia, the couple will meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, engage in cultural and military events, and meet notable Australians, including Aboriginal leaders. The King will also meet melanoma experts Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, the latter battling brain cancer.
They will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial. The King will learn about efforts to combat climate-change-induced bushfires, while the Queen will focus on domestic violence and literacy. A community BBQ in Sydney is also planned.
In Samoa, they will participate in an Ava Fa’atupu ceremony, share a traditional drink, and engage with Samoans to learn about their culture. The King will then attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting with representatives from 56 nations.
The tour’s expenses will be covered by the Australian and British governments, who requested the visit.
What Other Media Are Saying
- King Charles and Queen Camilla share more details about historic royal tour to Australia and Samoa, highlighting engagements focused on celebrating the best of both nations.(read more)
- Sky News Australia has revealed the full itinerary for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Australian royal tour, including stops in Canberra and Sydney.(read more)
- People King Charles and Queen Camilla’s upcoming tour to Australia and Samoa is a significant test of the monarch’s endurance following his cancer treatment. The trip will include a royal visit to Australia and a state visit to Samoa, focusing on themes of celebration and the king’s work.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How many engagements will the King and Queen undertake daily during their trip to Australia and Samoa?
Up to ten engagements a day.
Is King Charles still undergoing cancer treatment during his trip?
Officials would not confirm; treatment is going ‘very well’.
Why won’t the term ‘walkabout’ be used during the tour in Australia?
Out of respect for Australia’s indigenous communities.
What significant meeting will King Charles have in Australia?
He will meet melanoma experts, Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer.
Why was the planned stop in New Zealand cancelled?
Cancelled on his doctors’ advice.
