King Charles has said he will leave “it up to the people of Australia” if they are to become a republic or remain under his sovereignty.
The 75-year-old will pause cancer treatment to visit the southern hemisphere with Queen Camilla between October 18 and 26.
The royal couple will spend six days in Australia before attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
Ahead of the meeting, the Australian Republic Movement exchanged letters with Buckingham Palace officials.
"Whether Australia becomes a republic" is a "matter for the Australian public to decide", the King wrote back in response.
Australia held a referendum on becoming a republic in 1999 - but 54 per cent voted to stay under the monarch.
There have since been calls for a second referendum, although in January the prime minister Anthony Albanese put talks on hold.
"The King appreciated that you took the time to write and asked me to reply on his behalf," says the letter from Buckingham Palace to the Australian Republic Movement.
"Please be assured that your views on this matter have been noted very carefully.
"His Majesty, as a constitutional monarch, acts on the advice of his Ministers, and whether Australia becomes a republic is therefore a matter for the Australian public to decide."
His Majesty, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February will then resume treatment upon his return to the UK.
He has been urged to slow down by advisors, but is understood to feel “energised” by work and is said to feel bolstered by keeping busy at a challenging time, the Mail has said.
The King last visited Australia in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast and also paid a visit to the Northern Territory.
Charles is slowly recovering and has admitted to eating lunch for the first time in his life, having previously considered the meal a luxury.
