The King will reportedly head Down Under later this year, despite his cancer diagnosis.
It comes after Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to confirm a royal tour will still happen as he said that the country “is preparing for a possible visit from His Majesty The King to Australia later this year”.
Mr Albanese added: “The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis. The King, Queen and members of the royal family are always welcome in Australia.
My government is engaging with states and territories on options for a possible royal visit.”
Reports of the King’s trip first emerged when a government spokesman told The Australian newspaper in January that “the Prime Minister enjoys a warm relationship with the King and looks forward to welcoming His Majesty to Australia later this year”.
And following the 75-year-old monarch’s cancer diagnosis on 5 February, Mr Albanese wished the King a swift recovery, tweeting: “Australians know that His Majesty King Charles has always reached out to us in our country’s toughest moments, showing kindness and care for those doing it tough. All of us are thinking of him and his family in this very hard time. We wish him well for a speedy recovery.”
Charles and Camilla last visited Australia in 2018, when they represented the late Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Games.
If the tour goes ahead, it will be the first visit by a reigning monarch since 2011.
The late Queen Elizabeth II made 16 visits to Australia during her reign, each accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. She first visited as monarch in 1954, having stopped in New Zealand en route, with the final one in October 2011.
While undergoing treatment, Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.
He is set to miss the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday 11 March, but has recorded a special message for the service, according to reports.
