King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to visit Australia this week, marking their first trip since Charles became king.
Their visit coincides with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, taking place in Apia, Samoa. Due to the king’s ongoing cancer treatment, this will be a shorter tour compared to previous royal visits. According to UK reports, Charles will pause his treatment for the trip, but it will continue right up until his departure for Australia.
Despite the scaled-back schedule, there will still be opportunities for the public to see the royal couple.
When are King Charles and Queen Camilla visiting Australia?
They will be in Australia from Friday evening, October 18, until Wednesday, October 23.
Where will they visit in Australia?
Their itinerary includes stops in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales.
Where can the public see the royal couple?
While the full itinerary isn’t public, these are the confirmed times and locations for public appearances:
Monday, October 21
12:35 pm: The king and queen will greet crowds at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, and visit the For Our Country Memorial. Arrive by 11:45 am to avoid road closures and allow time for security screening.
1:00 pm: Catch a glimpse of the royals at Parliament House. Arrive by 12:10 pm for security and road closures.
Tuesday, October 22
4:20 pm: The couple will greet crowds at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Gates open at 3:00 pm.
4:50 pm: Watch the royals at Man O’War Steps during a fleet review and defence force flyover. Arrive at vantage points around Sydney Harbour (Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair) by 3:50 pm.
Additional engagements
Canberra: King Charles will tour the National Botanic Gardens and meet with scientists at the CSIRO studying bushfire impacts. Queen Camilla will meet with family and domestic violence advocates and representatives from GIVIT.
Sydney: The king will attend a fleet review on Sydney Harbour, followed by a defence force flyover, and both royals will join a community barbecue. They will also meet Australians of the Year Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer to discuss advancements in cancer treatment. The king will later meet with Indigenous representatives, while Queen Camilla will visit a Sydney library to meet students attending writing workshops. They will also attend a community barbecue hosted by the NSW premier in Parramatta.
Past Visits to Australia
King Charles has visited Australia 16 times, with his first visit in 1966 as a 17-year-old exchange student. His most recent trip was in 2018 to open the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Queen Camilla has visited Australia three times between 2012 and 2018, including her 2012 visit as Queen Elizabeth II’s representative during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.