King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit Australia and Samoa in October, canceling their trip to New Zealand due to the king’s ongoing recovery from cancer. The Australian government announced their visit to the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, coinciding with the release of official portraits.
All Australians can request a printed portrait of the monarch through their federal MP as part of the nationhood material program. The portraits show King Charles wearing The Sovereign’s Badge of the Order of Australia and Queen Camilla wearing the Wattle Brooch.
Buckingham Palace confirmed their attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, with the King returning to public duties in late April. Australian leaders expressed excitement for the royal visit, while some questioned the cost to taxpayers.
Despite calls for Australia to elect a local head of state, there are no current plans for a referendum on the issue. The Assistant Minister for the Republic acknowledged the challenges in advancing a republic given recent events.
Additional reporting by Reuters