EXCLUSIVE: King Charles will spend five days Down Under with his wife Queen Camilla, visiting iconic landmarks in Sydney and Canberra and smaller community events but they must ‘acclimate’ first.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to Australia on Friday for their highly-anticipated tour, but the public won’t get to meet the royal couple for another three days as they “acclimate” to their surroundings and get used to a new time zone.
King Charles – who has paused his cancer treatment while he undertakes a tour of Australia and Samoa – will spend five days Down Under with his wife Queen Camilla, visiting iconic landmarks in Sydney and Canberra and smaller community events.
The King, 75, has made 16 previous visits to Australia, but this will be his first as monarch.
“Charles and Camilla will arrive three days before undertaking any engagements which will give them time to get used to their surroundings,” said the source. “There’s a time zone issue and also a change in weather which they will have to adjust to.”
Buckingham Palace said the couple’s engagements will “focus on themes designed to celebrate the best of Australia… as well as reflecting aspects of The King and Queen’s work.”
Charles and Camilla’s first public appearance will be when they lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra at 12.35pm Australian time on Monday, October 21.
Royal fans have been told to arrive no later than 11.45am to allow for security screenings and large crowds.
At 1pm on Monday, onlookers can watch the ceremonial welcome, where the King and Queen will be greeted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at Parliament House.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, 77, will then meet supporters in the Parliament House forecourt from 2.10pm.
On Tuesday, the royal entourage will head to New South Wales (NSW), where the public has been invited to welcome the pair at the Sydney Opera House.
The welcome event will be followed by a Fleet Review and fly past from the Australian Defence Force.
The precinct will open at 3pm Australian time, for a 4.20pm start.
A community barbecue in Parramatta is also on the itinerary, hosted by NSW Premier Chris Minns.
“I look forward to hosting Their Majesties at the Western Sydney community BBQ to showcase this state’s rich culinary and cultural diversity, where they will also meet with a range of community organisations and outstanding Australians,” Minns said.
King Charles and Queen Camilla last went on a tour of Australia in 2018 (Image: Getty)
King Charles will also meet Australians of the Year, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, to hear about their world-leading cancer research.
Queen Camilla will head to an undisclosed Sydney library to meet students participating in writing workshops, esteemed authors, and recipients of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.
After departing Australia on October 23, King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to Samoa and attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
