King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit Australia and Samoa in the fall
Photo: Australian portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla released July 14, 2024. Photo: MILLIE PILKINGTON
King Charles and Queen Camilla are preparing to say "G'day" to Australia as they embark on a trip to the country and Samoa in the fall. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news on Sunday, with the couple set to attend engagements across the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.
The visit to Australia has been mooted for some time, as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is being held in Samoa this year. However, Buckingham Palace has been cautious about Charles' plans due to his ongoing cancer treatment.
The trip will be the first time Charles has been to Australia since becoming monarch in September 2022. The couple will also celebrate the strong bilateral relationship between Samoa and the UK during their time in the Pacific Island nation.
New portraits of the couple wearing their Australian and New Zealand decorations were released on Sunday, taken in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Millie Pilkington. The portraits show Charles and Camilla wearing their respective decorations, including the Order of Australia and the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government gathering begins on October 21, and the dates for Charles and Camilla's trip will be revealed nearer the time. The palace has also ruled out a visit to neighboring New Zealand due to medical advice, with Charles' doctors advising that an extended program should be avoided at this time to prioritize his continued recovery.