King Charles’ visit to Australia – and why it almost never happened

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are scheduled to arrive in Australia on Friday on a historic royal tour.

Eight months ago, I never thought I’d be writing these words.

In February, Buckingham Palace announced that the King had been diagnosed with cancer and had ceased all “official duties” on the orders of his doctors.

At the time, traveling to Australia seemed unthinkable. A nearly 24-hour flight, a grueling time difference, and several days of royal duties are certainly too much for the 75-year-old, who is embarking on treatment following a cancer diagnosis.

But palace entourage did not completely ignore the trip. Every time the subject came up, they were careful in their language. They will say that “the possibility has not been ruled out,” or that “the decision will be taken on the advice of doctors,” or that “the king needs to focus on treating his cancer first.”

And by late spring there were signs that the visits might still continue.

Part of the royal team traveled to Australia and Samoa to assess what was possible and worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Australian and New Zealand governments to finalize arrangements.

Will the King be strong enough to endure the rigors of touring? The answer was “yes”. However, there were some important changes.

On medical advice, New Zealand was removed from the schedule. Buckingham Palace said it was a “cooperative” choice between the Australian and New Zealand governments and acknowledged it was a “difficult decision”.

Royal aides have been open about the king’s diagnosis and treatment, but have not revealed details of the type of cancer he has or the treatment he is receiving. “His health is progressing in the right direction,” they tell us.

What is clear is that the king’s treatment is ongoing and his cancer requires regular medical management. However, he was healthy enough for his doctors to allow him to make this trip, and his cancer treatment was paused while he was away.

Leaving New Zealand and cutting this trip short means he can return to his normal treatment routine as soon as possible.

The event program for the King and Queen also seems to be a little different from the usual royal tour. Once they arrive, they must recover for a day before starting the engagement. This is a long journey. Both men are in their 70s, and their holidays once again reflect the king’s health.

Australia and Samoa timetables do not include night services. No state dinners, no late nights out. But over the next nine days, we’ll likely see more of the king than we have for most of this year.

Buckingham Palace said a lot of thought had been put into “balancing the program” and plans had been made to “maintain the King’s energy”.

This will be Charles’ first visit to one of the 14 kingdoms of which he is head of state. It will also be the first time for him to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where he is the head of an association from 56 countries.

The King’s reign was jeopardized by a cancer diagnosis, but this trip gives a real sense that he is back in business.

In addition to the doctor’s orders, the king had to follow the queen’s orders as well. His wife found herself continuing to do some of the work she had planned to do with her husband this year and doing more solo work than expected.

Queen Camilla is an influential figure within the royal family, and even after her husband was diagnosed with cancer, she made several public appearances about her husband’s “workaholic” mindset.

She has been key to ensuring the King follows doctors’ advice and has time to recover during treatment. And during her trip, she will carry out similar work in Australia and Samoa, as well as work on her own initiatives on issues such as literacy and support for victims of domestic violence.

A royal tour requires careful planning. They have a choreography and a checklist of notable moments: Parliament, dignitaries, military, environment, culture.

On paper, the Australian element of this trip is traditional and safe territory. But it’s also very different from what came before.

The King first visited Australia in 1966, aged 17, when he began his second term teaching experience at a private school in Victoria. He returned as a 75-year-old monarch undergoing treatment for cancer, towards the end of a year in which he faced immense personal hardship.

His public life is suppressed and limited due to illness. And although his schedule got busier as his treatment progressed, he returned to his haven at Balmoral for the summer and preparations for this trip.

“How’s the King doing?” is a question I’ve been asked repeatedly this year, and sometimes it’s been difficult to answer.

Over the next few days, we will be able to see the King at work every day. Up close with the head of state, the King of Australia.

This tour is a great showcase of the monarchy and is a must see monarchy. This is especially true in a country where Australia’s republic has recently become a hot topic of political debate. Optics are important to Buckingham Palace.

The goal is for the king to look healthy, engage with his people, manage all the event schedules, engage in soft diplomacy and be open to what Australia and Samoa can offer.

It wasn’t easy to get here. But royal aides are confident the visit will provide a strong sense that normal business will resume.