King Charles and Queen Camilla recently touched down in Sydney, marking Charles’ first visit to Australia as the reigning monarch. Despite arriving in rainy conditions, the royal couple’s five-day visit has been highly anticipated by monarchists.
This is King Charles’ 16th visit to the country, but his first since becoming king in 2022.
The couple’s visit includes a busy schedule, starting with a day of rest at a harborside mansion after their long flight from Britain. Their itinerary includes formal dinners, wreath-laying ceremonies, and meetings with Australian leaders like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée, Jodie Haydon. Although there were rumours about Charles attending the $20 million Everest horse race, officials confirmed it’s not part of the official program.
The public will have a few opportunities to see King Charles in person, including visits to the Australian War Memorial and the Sydney Opera House. This is the first time a King of Australia has set foot in the country since Queen Elizabeth’s tour in 1954.
Her last visit to Australia was in 2011.
After the Australian leg of their tour, King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place from 21 – 26 October 2024. This is a historic event as it will be the first time CHOGM is held in a Small Island Developing State. The theme for this year’s meeting, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” emphasizes resilience in areas like society, economy, and climate change.
As the leader of the Commonwealth, King Charles will attend key events at CHOGM, including the opening ceremony, a dinner for Commonwealth leaders, and a business forum discussing sustainable urbanization and investment. Queen Camilla will participate in discussions on gender equality and women’s empowerment. This visit to Samoa underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to unity and addressing global challenges like climate change and sustainable development
