King Charles is still hoping to visit with Queen Camilla in October, despite his recent cancer diagnosis.
His ongoing treatment had thrown his appearance to the country this autumn in doubt, but a Palace source says the King still hopes to complete the visit as part of a long-haul trip.
The visit is scheduled around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa and was confirmed by n prime minister Anthony Albanese in early January.
The source told the Telegraph: ‘We continue planning, but we’re not at any stage to confirm timing or dates because it’s the first week of the King’s treatment. It certainly remains the case that he’s hopeful it will go ahead.’
The visit will be the first by a ruling monarch since Elizabeth II in October 2011 and Charles’ first since his accession.
On Sunday, the King was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with the Queen, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments
The visit is scheduled around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa and was confirmed by n prime minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) in early January
Mr Albanese revealed the monarch’s intention to visit at the beginning of the year, with a Government spokesperson telling The n newspaper: ‘The Prime Minister enjoys a warm relationship with the King, and looks forward to welcoming His Majesty to later this year.’
The King announced he was postponing all public duties last week while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer.
His majesty is well enough to hold a limited number of face-to-face meetings, sources say, but will be spending most of his time recovering at Sandringham or Highgrove.
Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.
He is also expected to return to London more or less weekly in order to hold his audience with the Prime Minister and receive further treatment and medical advice.
On Sunday, the King was pictured walking to church at Sandringham with the Queen, the first time he had been seen in public since he began regular treatments.
The Kings’s spring visit to Canada and trip to New Zealand around the Commonwealth heads of government meeting is still up in the air for the time being.
The tours are considered critical in terms of shoring up support in a time of growing republicanism across the Commonwealth.
In , Mr Albanese confirmed last year that his desire for a referendum remained
The King is said to have been keen to be in Samoa October 21 for the crucial meeting, but the trip now hinges on whether he will feel able to.
Charles’ first overseas tours as king were to France and Germany respectively, then to Kenya, a member of the Commonwealth but not a realm.