King Charles and Camilla touch down in Australia for first overseas tour since becoming monarch

18 October 2024, 11:36

King Charles and Camilla have arrived in Australia for their first visit to the country since becoming monarch.

The King and Queen have arrived in Sydney for the start of their historic visit to Australia.

Charles and Camilla were greeted by Australia's governor-general Sam Mostyn, the King's representative, and prime minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon.

As the royal couple landed on the tarmac, photos of the pair on past trips to the country were projected onto the exterior of the iconic Sydney Opera House.

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The Queen was also presented with a posy by a young girl whose wish to meet the monarchs is being granted by the Make a Wish Foundation, and his sister Charlotte.

The King and Queen posted a message on social media before their arrival in Australia for a tour, praising the country and its people.

Charles and Camilla said on X, formerly Twitter: "Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special. See you there!

The six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney is Charles' first to a commonwealth country since he became King following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The King and Queen will also travel to Samoa for a three-day state visit and meet world leaders taking part in a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which Charles will formally open.

The historical nature of the trip is underlined by the fact that this is the first trip King Charles has taken since his cancer diagnosis in February.

He will be pausing cancer treatments for the tour and dropped a visit to New Zealand from the already streamlined itinerary on advice from doctors.

LBC News reporter Will Chalk said it's impossible to "overstate" the importance that the King's cancer diagnosis plays in this trip.

He said: "You can't really overstate this part of the trip- a 75-year-old dealing with a cancer diagnosis, traveling for a working week on the other side of the world."

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The tour has attracted some controversy in Australia, stirring up debate over Australia's status as a Commonwealth country.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will not meet any State Premiers during their tour of Australia - in a snub by the key member of the Commonwealth.

It comes after The King told anti-monarchists he will not intervene if a vote is held to remove him as head of state.

Republican campaigners are calling it his "Farewell Oz" tour - amid ongoing calls for a referendum about Australia severing its ties with the monarchy.

Here is what the royal couple's schedule is set to be for their first day in Australia:

• Charles and Camilla will be greeted in Sydney by top Aussie leaders like Australia's governor-general Sam Mostyn, the King's representative, and prime minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon
• The King and Queen will later sit down with the Australian prime minister and his partner for 'private talks'
• Charles is off duty the rest of the day, with Saturday designated a rest day for the monarch.