King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to visit Australia in October, marking the king’s 16th visit to the country and his first as sovereign. The royal pair will explore the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales during their visit, with specific details yet to be revealed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his excitement for the visit, calling it a welcome occasion.
The 75-year-old king is currently undergoing cancer treatment and recently resumed public duties after a hiatus. The upcoming visit will be significant as it will be the first time a reigning monarch has visited Australia since Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2011.
During their previous visit in 2018, King Charles and Queen Camilla explored regional parts of Australia, including the NSW Riverina region and Queensland’s Bundaberg, where the king even blended his own bottle of rum. Governor-General Sam Mostyn highlighted King Charles’ deep connection to Australia, emphasizing his affection for the country and its people.
In addition to their visit to Australia, the royal couple will also travel to Samoa to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the Pacific Island nation and the UK. Due to King Charles’ ongoing recovery, the visit will not include New Zealand in the itinerary.
Official portraits of the King and Queen were recently released by Buckingham Palace, showcasing The King wearing The Sovereign’s Badge of the Order of Australia and The Queen donning the Wattle Brooch gifted to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1954 visit to Australia. Printed versions of these portraits can be requested by Australians through their federal representatives.
Preparations for the Royal Visit are already underway, with more information to be provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the coming days.
