King Charles and Queen Camilla are coming to Australia. Here's everything we know.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have just announced that they are planning a royal tour of Australia and Samoa in October 2024.

So far, we know that the tour will take place in Canberra and New South Wales, with further engagements to be confirmed "in due course". 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had already said the new King would visit the country months ago, but the viability of the trip was thrown into question with the King's cancer diagnosis.

It's expected that while the trip will go ahead, it will remain relatively short, hence the decision not to include an additional leg of the tour in New Zealand. 

It's been six years since Charles has been in Australia, but it will always hold a special place in his heart.

When did King Charles first come to Australia?

A young Prince Charles walks the beach in Australia. Image: Getty

In 1966, Prince Charles was a 17-year-old boy and also heir to the British throne. He'd been attending the austere Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland, largely hating it there, and had come 'Down Under' for a two-term stint at a rural school in Victoria, the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School. 

He arrived off the plane in a suit and tie, to be greeted by the governor-general and then Prime Minister Harold Holt. The future king was in Australia to get to know the Commonwealth he would one day rule over.

"While I was here I had the Pommy bits bashed off me," Charles said years later when visiting Australia. While at the school he endured 70-mile hikes, getting to know the Australian wildlife, from snakes to funnel-web spiders. The now King said it the experience was "good for the character."

Prince Charles takes a dip at Bondi beach. Image: Getty

When was King Charles' last visit to Australia?

Since then, King Charles has returned to Australia a grand total of 15 times, most recently in 2018 alongside the now Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

His next visit will bring him to the same number of visits as his predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II, who visited 16 times before her passing in September 2022. 

Is King Charles' royal tour of Australia confirmed?

Then Prince Charles and Camilla visited in 2018. Image: Getty

Yes, King Charles' royal tour of Australia has been officially confirmed. Buckingham Palace announced on July 14, 2024, that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Australia in October 2024. 

This will be their first visit to Australia since their accession to the throne and marks the first visit by a reigning monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's tour in 2011.

When did Anthony Albanese announce the tour?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not directly announce the tour. However, on March 3, 2024, he confirmed that he was working with the royal family to arrange a "possible royal visit". 

The official announcement came from Buckingham Palace in mid July.

What dates will King Charles be in Australia?

Princess Diana and the then Prince Charles famously visited when Prince William was a baby. Image: Getty

The exact dates of King Charles' visit to Australia have not been officially announced. However, it has been confirmed that the tour will take place in October 2024. 

The royal family has stated that further details of the visit will be announced "in due course".

Where is King Charles' royal tour going?

King Charles and Queen Camilla's tour will include engagements in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Specifically, they are expected to visit Sydney and Canberra. 

After their time in Australia, the royal couple will travel to Samoa to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is scheduled for October 21-25, 2024.

How to attend King Charles' royal tour?

Prince Charles speaks with our own Australian royalty, the Irwins. Image: Getty

At this time, no official information has been released regarding public attendance or participation in King Charles' royal tour events. As the tour approaches, details about public events or opportunities to see the royal couple may be announced by local authorities or through official royal channels. 

It's advisable to keep an eye on official announcements from the Australian government and Buckingham Palace for any updates on public involvement in the royal tour.

It's important to note that the tour has been scaled back due to King Charles' ongoing recovery from cancer treatment. The palace has stated that the program in both Australia and Samoa will be subject to doctors' advice and may undergo necessary modifications on health grounds.

Feature Image: Getty.