From BBQs to the CSIRO, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Australian itinerary revealed
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Sydney and Canberra next month for a fast-paced five-day trip – the couple’s first visit to Australia since Charles ascended to the throne two years ago.
After being forced to cut short more ambitious travel plans on doctor’s orders, the King and Queen will visit Australia from October 18-22 before travelling to Samoa for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Sydney and Canberra in October. Credit: Getty Images
Their busy schedule ranges from a formal visit to Parliament House in Canberra to a relaxed BBQ with community leaders in Sydney, with space left on the agenda for yet-to-be-announced surprises.
The King’s itinerary includes a visit to the CSIRO headquarters and a separate meeting about the impacts of climate change, reflecting the progressive, environmentally conscious image he cultivated as a prince.
The last time a reigning British monarch visited Australia was a 10-day visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, during which she toured Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.
The 75-year-old King underwent surgery earlier this year after being diagnosed with cancer, forcing Buckingham Palace to cut a planned visit to New Zealand from the royals’ itinerary.
The world was also rocked by the news in March that his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was undergoing cancer treatment.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Buckingham Palace’s announcement of the trip’s details, saying: “The royal visit is an opportunity to showcase the best of Australia – our rich culture, our sense of community, and contributions to science, research and global progress.
“His majesty first visited Australia in 1966 and has a strong personal affection for our nation.
“We are delighted that his majesty is recovering well and has made visiting Australia once again a priority.”
After flagging a possible referendum on a republic in a second-term Labor government, Albanese shelved the prospect of such a vote following last year’s Voice to parliament defeat.
He then scrapped the post of assistant minister for the republic in a July reshuffle, indicating the issue was going nowhere anytime soon.
Charles, who spent two terms at Geelong Grammar School in Victoria as a 17-year-old, has visited Australia on 15 previous occasions, most recently in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
While in Canberra, Albanese will welcome their majesties to Parliament House, where they will attend a reception for political, sporting, arts and community leaders.
They will also visit the Australian War Memorial, and meet with staff and volunteers at the Australian National Botanic Gardens to discuss the global impacts of climate change.
The King will also meet with CSIRO scientists to discuss the impact of bushfires in Australia, while the Queen will participate in a discussion on family and domestic violence as well as meeting representatives from the GIVIT charity.
In Sydney, the King and Queen will conduct a review of naval ships on Sydney Harbour and attend a community BBQ celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity.
The King will discuss cancer research with 2024 Australians of the Year Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer while meeting with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. The Queen will meet with children participating in a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop during a library visit.
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