King Charles to visit Australia, Samoa on first overseas trip since cancer diagnosis

The visit to Australia will be a critical moment for Britain’s king as he tries to shore up support for the monarchy at home and abroad

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Britain’s King Charles will visit Australia and Samoa in October. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:53am, 15 Jul 2024Updated: 12:23pm, 15 Jul 2024

Britain’s King Charles is preparing to visit Australia and Samoa in October, an itinerary that will span 12 time zones and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment.

The trip, announced on Sunday by Buckingham Palace, marks a watershed moment for the 75-year-old king, who has been slowly returning to public duties after taking a break following his cancer diagnosis in early February. The decision to undertake such a long journey will be seen as a sign of Charles’ recovery, even though the programme in Australia will be “limited”.

The visit to Australia will be a critical moment for the king as he tries to shore up support for the monarchy at home and abroad.

Britain’s King Charles, right, and Queen Camilla, left, in Cardiff, Wales on July 11. Photo: AFP

The trip will mark the first time since he ascended the throne that Charles will visit one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state, a link that is a source of pride for some but an unwelcome reminder of Britain’s colonial dominance for others.