King Charles III, aged 75, expressed his 'great joy' at returning to Australia during his 16th official visit, which marks his first major trip since his cancer diagnosis. The King was greeted by hundreds of cheering supporters in Sydney on October 20, 2024, where he attended St Thomas’ Anglican Church and met with New South Wales lawmaker Kellie Sloane. He also sent best wishes to local Bondi Beach surf clubs and signed historic bibles, including one dating back to 1788. This visit comes after a long flight from London and follows his arrival in Sydney on October 18, 2024, for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa [d1291275].
During this tour, King Charles was granted the titles of field marshal of Australia’s army, marshal of its air force, and admiral of the fleet on October 19, 2024. This ceremonial gesture underscores the significance of his visit, especially as it occurs eight months after his cancer diagnosis. The visit has sparked mixed sentiments among Australians regarding the monarchy, with a recent poll indicating that one-third support retaining it [8d725fc9].
In a personal note, King Charles III expressed gratitude to his son Prince Harry for visiting him in London after learning about his health issues. The visit, which lasted 30 minutes, was seen as a sincere gesture from Prince Harry and was appreciated by the King. This interaction may signal a potential thaw in their complicated relationship, as King Charles expressed a desire to travel to Montecito in the United States to reunite with his grandchildren [9e4e3b2a].
Additionally, King Charles III offered heartfelt thanks to those who took to the streets in British towns and cities to counter unrest fueled by far-right activists and misinformation regarding a tragic stabbing incident. His acknowledgment of the police and emergency workers' efforts to restore order reflects the ongoing challenges faced by the royal family in the context of current events [13570420].
Despite the health challenges within the royal family, including cancer treatments for both King Charles and the Princess of Wales, as well as skin cancer concerns for Sarah, Duchess of York, the royal couple continues to fulfill their duties and engage in diplomatic activities [1a6d66e9].