As King Charles prepares to jet off down under for his upcoming royal visit, concerns are growing that the engagement could prove to be a challenging period for the Monarch as he continues his battle against cancer.
Australians will soon welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla after the royal couple confirmed they will visit the country in October, marking the first time the royals have visited since the inauguration.
It will be the first trip to Australia by a reigning monarch since 2011, when Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.
While anticipation is high for King Charles’ visit, royal commentator Jennie Bond has expressed concern for the Monarch, claiming that his visit will be “quite testing” given his ongoing health woes.
“Charles is 75, he is not a young man by any means”, she told GB News.
“He has been on the world scene for decades. His shoulders are broad and his mind is attuned to everything going on around the world.
“He is making a great job of it. I just hope he can continue to do so and get through this treatment.
“He is set to travel to Australia with Camilla, that will be quite testing I should think.
“But he is back on the world scene. That is good news.”
Despite the concerns for his well-being, King Charles’ team has made some “tough decisions” regarding the royal visit to ensure the Monarch’s health remains a top priority.
As reported by People magazine, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said they had to make some, “tough decisions with the Australian Government where the monarchs can get to.”
“We’ve had to, as you would with any visit, think about how you can ensure Their Majesties’ energies are preserved to be at their best,” they said.
Charles’ health concerns first came to light during a hospital stay related to benign prostate enlargement. Subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer, prompting King Charles to embark on a regimen of regular treatments. While he has continued to handle state affairs and official paperwork, public-facing engagements were temporarily postponed on medical advice.
Despite concerns, Charles has consistently shown signs of improvement as he navigates his diagnosis and treatment. In addition to returning to the public eye and conducting a number of royal engagements, it was recently revealed that the King is doing “quite well”.
Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker-Bowles offered the insight while promoting his current cookbook, Cooking And The Crown, which covers favourite recipes of the Royal Family from the 19th Century to today.
While speaking to well-wishers Parker-Bowles said the King was doing “quite well” and revealed how his mother was coping with the King’s care.
As reported in The Express, Parker-Bowles said that “the doctor says the treatment is going well” and reassured well-wishers of his mother’s mindset during this difficult time.
“She’s tough, my mother,” he added.