King Charles is set to ‘pause’ his cancer treatment for 11 days during a high-profile royal visit to Australia and Samoa later this month
The King’s doctors are allowing him to ‘pause’ his cancer treatment to fly to Australia next week for a high-profile royal visit.
The 75-year-old monarch will make a major official visit to Sydney and Canberra from October 18, immediately followed by a state visit to Samoa in the South Pacific, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The Mail understands that His Majesty will continue his ongoing cancer treatment until his flight, but that his doctors are happy for it to be temporarily halted while he is away.
The king will then resume his treatment cycle once he returns to Britain.
Charles, 75, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in February after prostate surgery and has been treated weekly since.
King Charles will make an important official visit to Australia from October 18
The official portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla for the upcoming Australian tour, in which he wears the Sovereign’s Badge of the Order of Australia and the Queen wears the Wattle Brooch given to Queen Elizabeth on her first visit as monarch in 1954
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall walk on Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, Australia in April 2018
However, news that the King is planning an 11-day door-to-door journey of 50,000 miles between treatments is both good news in terms of his health – and also highlights the devotion to duty he has shown since. he was diagnosed for the first time.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
King and his wife, Queen Camilla, have a busy schedule during their royal visit with up to ten appointments a day between them – and only have one day of rest.
However, sources emphasize that their program is organized in close consultation with his doctors and is “conscious” of his health. Appointments have been organized to give his further recovery ‘priority’.
His entourage will, as always, include a traveling doctor – a standard practice for the head of state.
The long-awaited trip is of great importance as it is his first visit to an empire of which he is head of state since he became king and his first CHOGM as head of the Commonwealth.
The workaholic royal has been urged to slow down by both his wife and advisers, but sources say he is feeling ‘energized’ by his work – and it has been important for him mentally to stick to his work at such a challenging time usual routine.
On Wednesday he hosted a reception at St James’ Palace to celebrate the Commonwealth diaspora ahead of his visit to CHOGM.
The official announcement of the tour on the royal family’s Instagram account
King Charles has been urged by both his wife and advisers to slow down, but sources say he is feeling ‘energized’ by his work
Meanwhile, his wife, Queen Camilla, 77, (right), who has been praised for ‘holding down the fort’ since the start of the year, is planning a pre-tour break with friends this week. (King Charles III looks up as he awaits the reading of the King’s Speech in July this year)
He was in great form and even took to the floor to show off his moves in a traditional Siva Samoan dance.
However, to arrange his recovery before his visit Down Under, the King returned to Scotland immediately afterwards, where he will largely remain until the time comes to travel.
He will continue to work on government papers and hold pre-CHOGM talks with world leaders at Birkhall, his private home near Balmoral. This week he will briefly return to London to hold the Privy Council, meet the Prime Minister and make medical appointments.
Meanwhile, his wife Queen Camilla, 77, who has been praised for ‘holding down the fort’ since the start of the year, is planning a pre-tour break with friends this week, it can also be revealed. Details cannot be made public for security reasons.
A source explained: ‘The fortnight leading up to the royal tour has been deliberately kept light for His Majesty. He will still have meetings, do his paperwork and still come in for treatment.
“Australia is a big deal and he wants to stay fit.
‘As soon as he comes back, he will immediately be in a very intense program until Christmas.
‘The late Queen was due to stay in Scotland until October and he has decided to do the same. It is a place of peace for him and that is more important than usual this year because of what lies ahead.
‘For a workaholic [like him] it’s a chance to catch your breath.’
Other sources say that His Majesty personally appears ‘in very good humour’. His treatment went much better than anyone expected.
This summer, Charles, who turns 76 next month, has been enjoying the fresh air in Scotland on long walks and foraging for mushrooms.
