King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom paid their respects at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, on Monday. The royal couple laid wreaths in honor of fallen soldiers and took the time to greet well-wishers during the second day of their visit to the country.
Despite King Charles III, aged 75, undergoing treatment for cancer, the couple's visit marks his 17th trip to Australia and the first since ascending to the throne in 2022. This visit also holds significance as it is the first time a reigning British monarch has visited Australia since Queen Elizabeth II's trip in 2011.
Following a day of rest upon their arrival, Charles and Camilla attended a church service in Sydney before traveling to Canberra. Their itinerary included a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and a reception at Parliament House hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Amid clear skies and mild temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), the royal couple engaged with hundreds of well-wishers waving Australian flags outside the war memorial. However, the absence of government leaders from all six Australian states at the reception highlighted differing views on the monarchy's role in the country.
Prime Minister Albanese, who personally supports Australia becoming a republic, clarified that a referendum on the matter would not be pursued during his current term in office. Despite this, the royal visit continues to draw attention and spark discussions about Australia's future governance.
Looking ahead, King Charles III is scheduled to travel to Samoa on Wednesday to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, further solidifying the ties between the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth partners.
