King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Australia later this week in a historic royal tour for the new monarch.  The visit is his first to the country as its monarch, and he might never have done so, as the trip was put in question when the monarch was diagnosed with cancer several months ago.

Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer and would be suspending all his public duties until further notice as he begins his treatment.  Considering the flight would be a long-haul one, coupled with the time difference and demands of royal engagements, many considered that a visit to Australia was unlikely to happen for the 75-year-old King.

However, palace officials never entirely ruled out the possibility and said it would depend on medical advice.  Several months then passed, during which the idea of the visit began to take shape.  Late in spring, the King’s staff had already started to make preparations and visited Australia and Samoa to finalize arrangements while keeping in touch with the Foreign Office and the governments of both countries as a courtesy.

New Zealand, initially to be part of the tour, was dropped as one variation of the plan.  If this were not done-such a decision the King readily agreed to on medical grounds-then His Majesty would not be able to carry through the general tour without infringing upon his health.  “Buckingham Palace accepts that it was a tough decision and one made for the sole reason that it enabled the King to go to Australia and continue his planned visit.”.

The palace has not disclosed the type of cancer afflicting the King or any specifics regarding his treatment.  However, the aides have already confirmed that his health has improved and that he was strong enough to undertake this tour.  His treatment, though ongoing, will be temporarily suspended as he travels to attend royal engagements before resuming his treatment back home.

Health Consideration

The tour schedule of the King and Queen was constructed to respect the health needs of the King.  The royal couple is allowed to sleep for a day when they arrive; it recognizes that they have crossed over too much traveling time and will face a setback due to the displacement of the time zone.  The events have been changed so that nothing is scheduled for the evening, and no state dinner takes place, unlike any previous royal tour, to save the energy of the King.

His visit is exceptional as it marks King Charles’s first visit to Australia as its monarch.  Australia is one of the 14 realms where the King remains Head of State.  During the visit, he will also attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a very high-profile meeting he chairs when representing the 56-member Commonwealth.

While the King’s health has forced him out of the public eye for much of this year, this tour is a renewal of royal responsibilities.  Queen Camilla has been constant in her visits when the King was ill, often traveling with the King when he could not attend and, many times, making the trip alone.  She is largely accountable for his remaining by the recommendations from his physicians and getting the rest he needs.  On the visit, Queen Camilla also engages in her own engagements, particularly literacy and supporting victims of domestic violence.

The visit to Australia was traditional in many ways, but it had been carefully adapted to reflect the King’s current situation. He was not a stranger to this land; indeed, as a 17-year-old student, he first set foot in Australia in 1966.  Now, at 75, he returns as its monarch, meeting his own health problems and still eager to meet the requirements of his office.

Buckingham Palace will view the royal tour as an opportunity to promote the monarchy, specifically in Australia, where there has been serious talk of making it a republic in the past few years.  Their Majesties will appear as the face of a resilient and engaged monarchy despite the vicissitudes of the past year.

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