S Poddar
“The king will resume traveling abroad next year after he takes a break from his official foreign duties following his recent cancer diagnosis, with his overseas travel pending approval from his medical team,” according to a palace representative.
In a statement at the end of a nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa, the senior palace official said plans are already in the works for a full overseas tour schedule for next year. “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms, subject to signoff by doctors.”
Since the beginning of February King Charles has been under outpatient treatment for a form of cancer that has not been disclosed. All public engagement had to be cancelled during this period but he continued behind the scenes, visiting Australia and Samoa. New Zealand was added to the itinerary but removed after receiving medical advice.
The king and queen attended between ten engagements daily, which were carefully planned to allow rest time, and only one in the evening. The head of the palace said about his dedication, “I think it’s a great testament to the king’s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far, and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.”
The official described the king as “genuinely enjoying” the tour, feeding on activities in Australia and Samoa, and helped by experience to better his spirits, mood, and recovery. “In that sense, the tour, despite its demands, has been the perfect tonic.”
Another is what the King draws strength from, on no insignificant level, the Queen. “She keeps it real,” said the official.
While few protests occur during the five-day visit of the king to Australia, some of the positive things have happened in this country. The indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe heckled the king when he addressed MPs and senators at Parliament House in Canberra. She yelled, “This is not your country. You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.”.
The return of King Charles to normal foreign travel marks a step forward in hope towards the end of the difficult period that has characterized his reign so far. His determination to be present and carry out his official duties even when health problems necessitate it shows the great commitment he has towards duty and service.
