King Charles and Queen Camilla will spend five days in Australia—between Oct. 18 and Oct. 23—before flying to Samoa for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
It’s the first time a monarch has visited Australia in over a decade—the last time was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2011. It is the king’s first visit since his coronation in 2022 and his 16th overall.
The couple last visited Australia in 2018 as the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
The current tour will cover only Sydney and Canberra and will not extend to New Zealand as it usually would, based on advice from Charles’ doctors.
Initially, when it was announced in March, it would last two weeks and cover both countries.
The king—along with his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales—has been undergoing weekly treatment for cancer in recent months after being diagnosed in February.
“The King’s doctors have advised that a further extension to Their Majesties’ trip should be avoided at this time to prioritise His Majesty’s continued recovery,” a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.
Cancer and Climate Change on the Agenda
In Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the royal couple to Parliament House. They will then attend a reception for political and community leaders and people who have excelled in health, the arts, culture, or sport.They will then pay their respects at the Australian War Memorial before visiting the National Botanic Gardens, where they will discuss the global impacts of climate change with staff and volunteers.
The king has long advocated for environmental protection and initiatives to reduce the world’s carbon footprint.
The couple will also attend events as individuals. While in Sydney, Charles is due to visit the CSIRO, Australia’s science agency, to discuss the toll of bushfires with scientists.
He will also meet with Australians of the Year, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, to learn about their innovative research into the disease.
At the same time, Camilla will participate in a discussion on family and domestic violence.
Then, while the king meets with the cancer research team, the queen will visit a library and meet children participating in a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop.
Together, they will conduct a Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy and attend a community barbecue celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity and showcasing quality produce across New South Wales.
Albanese said he welcomed the royals back to Australia.
“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,” he said.
“His Majesty first visited Australia in 1966, and [he] 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.”
