King Charles And Queen Camilla In Sydney And Canberra: Five Highlights You Need to Know
Image: King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords, London in July 2024. Image: AAP Photos/ Kirsty Wigglesworth.
By James Bale
The news is in. King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be making the journey to Australia for a five-day trip between Sydney and Canberra, despite the King’s cancer concerns.
This will be the first time Charles and Camilla come to Australia since the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and the first time a British monarch arrives on our shores since 2011 when Queen Elizabeth II visited Down Under. While for many Australians, the concept of the monarchy as our head of state is out of favor, for those eager to see the new king and queen for the first time here is what you need to know.
Showcase at Sydney Harbour
The Royal Australian Navy will be putting on a show of the finest that the Naval Fleet has to offer at Sydney Harbour. This showcase will be followed by a community barbeque in Sydney’s West to show off the produce grown here in New South Wales.
Discussions Of Cancer Research
King Charles will be meeting with Australians of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Skylar AO, renowned for their breakthroughs in the treatment of advanced Melanoma. During this visit, the King is set to learn the process of creating this groundbreaking melanoma treatment. This visit comes eight months after it was revealed that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, only resuming royal duties in April of this year.
Visit To CSIRO
As the monarchs head down to the Nation’s capital, one of the destinations they will find themselves is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Charles will be meeting with scientists to discuss the impact of bushfires and climate change. For Camilla, she will be participating in an open discussion regarding families and domestic violence.
War Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony
A rite of passage for British monarchs coming to Canberra is to pay a visit to the Australian War Memorial. The king and queen are due to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers by partaking in the wreath-laying ceremony.
Trip To The Capital
The five-day tenure will be highlighted by a visit to the Parliament House. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese will host a reception for Charles and Camilla where they will have the opportunity to meet with many of Australia’s political and community leaders.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be in the country from October 18-23. The Royal couple will then head to a meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government in Apia, Samoa.
