Historic Arrival: King Charles and Queen Camilla Touch Down in Australia

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in Sydney for their historic visit to Australia, marking the first time a reigning King has set foot in the country. This trip is also significant as it comes after Charles’s recent cancer diagnosis and is his first official overseas tour as monarch.

In a social media message, they expressed their excitement about celebrating Australia’s rich cultures and communities. The visit includes a highlight of cancer research, where the King will meet with 2024 Australians of the Year, Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, known for their work on melanoma.

The royal couple will participate in various activities, including a community barbecue in western Sydney and a day in Canberra to meet prominent figures and honor war veterans. Following their time in Australia, they will travel to Samoa for a four-day state visit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

However, the visit is not without challenges, as republicans are renewing calls for Australia to sever ties with the monarchy, and discussions regarding slave trade reparations and the return of Indigenous artifacts will take center stage during the CHOGM.