Fuss over King Charles III's visit to New Zealand.
Fuss over King Charles III's visit to New Zealand.
At the end of March 2024, King Charles III visited Germany – here during his speech in the German Bundestag. He is expected to arrive in October.
Changes at the bottom of the travel
The planned trip to Australia, Samoa and New Zealand could be for King Charles III (75) and his wife Queen Camilla (76) but it turned out differently than originally planned. As the British newspaper The Mirror reported, citing an insider, the visit in October will remain shorter – and all appointments in New Zealand may be cancelled. The king decided this on the advice of his doctors, who feared that he would overexert himself in the midst of his battle with cancer.
Australia and Samoa remain on the itinerary, but the royal couple will not make the trip to New Zealand. “It would be a bitter disappointment for both sides,” the insider is quoted as saying. In April, there was still talk of a two-week trip down under. The Australian stay is now said to be down to around six days. After a day or two break, the King and Queen travelled for three days to Samoa, where a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held.
As The Mirror reported, Buckingham Palace has yet to announce details of the trip to Australia. Officials are currently working with the federal government Down Under to finalise the royal couple's itinerary in the coming weeks. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 61, said some time ago that planning was underway. “The King has shown compassion to Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support to the King following his cancer diagnosis,” he said. “The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia.”
The proposed royal itinerary from Queensland is expected to include a visit to the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, a trip to the Gold Coast and then north to Cairns, where the monarch will meet those affected by the devastating floods in January. After that, it could be Lizard Island, an hour’s flight north of the city, where the royal couple have been offered the use of a luxury home and cottage owned by Racing Queensland team boss Stephen Wilson.
Since 1867, the British royal family has visited Australia more than 50 times, including just six visits before 1954. Elizabeth II is the first and only Australian monarch to set foot on Australian soil. Her first visit was in February 1954. Her last visit to Australia was in 2011. Charles has also been there several times, but never as king. He and Camilla last visited Australia as heir apparent in 2018 to celebrate the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Charles has a close connection to Australia, having attended a private school for a term in 1966.
He has also visited New Zealand several times: as Prince of Wales, he has made 10 visits, three of them with Camilla. The couple last visited New Zealand in November 2019 for a six-day tour. There may not be a return in five years. “It is very much hoped that there will be more opportunities in the future,” the insider said. However, everyone is aware that the monarch’s health must be taken into account. Charles spent three nights in hospital in January for an enlarged prostate before being diagnosed with cancer the following month. He returned to public duties at the end of April and has recently appeared in good spirits at several major events such as the Trooping the Colour birthday parade and Royal Ascot horse races.
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