King Charles.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Christmas Morning Service

Samir Hussein/WireImage

King Charlescould be heading Down Under this year despite his recentcancer diagnosis.

According to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, per local media outletABC, the country is “preparing for a possible visit from His Majesty The King to Australia later this year.”

The monarch, 75, was widely expected to travel to Australia around the time of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is being held in Samoa and is scheduled to start on Oct. 24.

Queen Elizabeth and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II receives Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an audience in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire on June 15, 2021

Reports of a possible royal visit first emerged at the start of the year. According toThe Telegraph, a government spokesman toldThe Australiannewspaper in January that “the Prime Minister enjoys a warm relationship with the King and looks forward to welcoming His Majesty to Australia later this year.”

The visit would be King Charles’ first as the country’s sovereign. He last visited Australia in 2018. The King’s late mother,Queen Elizabeth, toured the country in 2011, visiting Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Princess Annewas the last member of the royal family to visit Australia. The Princess Royal and her husband,Sir Timothy Laurence, visited the country in April 2022 and undertook engagements in Sydney, including opening the 200th Sydney Royal Easter Show.

King Charles.Chris Jackson/Getty

King Charles III walks past a guard of honour during the Ceremonial Welcome at State House on October 31, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are visiting Kenya for four days at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto, to celebrate the relationship between the two countries. The visit comes as Kenya prepares to commemorate 60 years of independence. (

Chris Jackson/Getty

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the palace said in a statement.

King Charles and Queen Camilla in Nairobi, Kenya in Nov. 2023.Victoria Jones/Getty

King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet veteran Samwel Nthigai Mburia, who is believed to be 117 years old, during a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Nairobi, joining British and Kenyan military personnel in an act of remembrance, on day two of the state visit to Kenya on November 1, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Victoria Jones/Getty

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While King Charles has postponed his public engagements, he has still been undertaking private meetings and state business, including hisregular meetingswith U.K. Prime MinisterRishi Sunak.

The King has also been picturedattending churchat St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate with his wife,Queen Camilla.

He was last pictured publicly on Wednesday in London when hewaved to well-wishersas he was driven from his home, Clarence House. The previous day, the King missed aThanksgiving Service in Windsor Castlefor the late King Constantine of Greece.

Queen Camilla, 76, formally led the royals at the service.

The King and Queen’s last overseas tour took place in Oct. and Nov. 2023 when the royal couplevisited Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya.

source: people.com