King Charles and Queen Camilla have finalized plans to visit Australia and Samoa in October, but canceled a proposed trip to New Zealand on health advice while the king recovers from cancer.
The Australian government said on Monday that the king and queen will visit the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales during the visit, with further details to be confirmed later.
The announcement coincided with the release of official Australian portraits of the King and Queen.
As part of a little-known national goods scheme, all Australians have the right to request a printed portrait of the monarch courtesy of their MP or federal senator, but the federal government waited until Buckingham Palace sent the official portrait.
“In official portraits, the King wears the Australian King’s Seal, while the Queen wears an acacia brooch as a gift to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Australia in 1954,” the government said in a statement.
Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa from October 21-25.
Carlos, 75, is recovering from cancer earlier this year, so they will visit Australia, but not New Zealand. At the end of April the King returned to public duties.
“The King’s doctors have advised against such a prolonged program at this time, prioritizing Her Majesty’s continued recovery,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
The Australian Prime Minister said: “I am honored to host the first ever visit of the King and Queen to Australia later this year.”
“They always welcome visitors,” Anthony Albanese said Monday.
“The King has deep respect for our great nation and always speaks glowingly of his time here and the astonishing beauty of our extraordinary continent.”
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Australia’s Governor Sam Mostyn said he was looking forward to “showcasing the best of our modern and diverse nation” during the current visit.
“I was lucky enough to spend time with Her Majesty in May,” he said.
“His Majesty the King has a deep affection and deep connection with the Australian people and is very much looking forward to his first visit to Australia since becoming King.”
It will be the first visit by an Australian monarch since 2011, when Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip embarked on a 10-day tour.
Additional information from Reuters
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