At 75 years old and recently diagnosed with cancer, King Charles III is preparing for a pivotal moment in his reign. This October, he will embark on a journey that spans half the globe, traveling to Samoa and Australia. The tour, scheduled to begin Friday and conclude on October 26, marks the first time Charles will visit one of the 14 nations outside the United Kingdom where he serves as head of state since he ascended the throne.
This trip is more than a routine royal engagement—it is a statement of intent. For Charles, this tour highlights the issues he holds dear, particularly the existential threat climate change poses to the world’s most vulnerable nations, such as the Pacific island states. It is also a chance to reconnect with Australia, a country with which he shares a deep, personal history.
Despite his recent cancer diagnosis, the king has decided to undertake this demanding journey, underscoring his commitment to his role and his legacy. This tour reflects his enduring work ethic, his desire to leave his mark on the monarchy, and his vision for the future of the Commonwealth.
King Charles III’s decision to embark on this lengthy and taxing tour, despite his ongoing battle with cancer, speaks volumes about his character. Diagnosed in February of this year, Charles has largely stepped back from public duties as he undergoes treatment. Yet, this trip marks his gradual return to royal engagements, a decision that royal experts suggest stems from his desire to shape the monarchy in his own way.
Anna Whitelock, a professor of the history of the monarchy at City University, London, observed that Charles is not content with merely being a caretaker king. “He doesn’t just want to be a sort of caretaker king, waiting in a sense for his own death and the accession of William,” she said, referring to Charles’ eldest son and heir, Prince William. “He wants to be active in the world.”
This tour will provide Charles with the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to addressing global challenges and cement his place as a monarch who actively engages with the issues of the day.
Charles’ return to Australia is particularly significant, as it is a country that played a formative role in his adolescence. At 17, he spent two terms at Timbertop, an outdoor-oriented branch of Geelong Grammar School outside Melbourne, in what was arguably one of the most impactful periods of his youth. The six months he spent chopping wood, embarking on long hikes, and living among peers who treated him as just another boy helped shape the young prince into a more confident and self-assured individual. According to biographer Jonathan Dimbleby, the experience allowed Charles to “find himself” away from the pressures of royal life.
“Part of this change was in the nature of adolescence, but some of it lay in the opportunity he had been given in Australia to find himself — free from Gordonstoun, away from his parents, away from the British press, away from the suffocating certainties of royal life,” Dimbleby wrote in 1994.
Charles has visited Australia multiple times since, including after his marriage to Princess Diana, but this trip will be his first as king. It comes at a time when the relationship between Australia and the British monarchy is under scrutiny. Australia has long wrestled with the question of whether to maintain its constitutional ties to the British monarchy or become a republic. The debate resurfaced in 1999, when 45% of Australians voted in a referendum to sever ties with the monarchy—a significant portion, though not enough to bring about change.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labour Party has historically favored holding a second referendum on the issue. However, after a recent referendum on Indigenous rights was overwhelmingly rejected last year, the republican debate has taken a back seat to more pressing national concerns.
Ian Kemish, a former Australian diplomat, noted that while many Australians still support becoming a republic, it is not a priority in the national discourse. “People are more focused on the economy, the rising cost of living, and the ascendance of China,” Kemish explained.
Nevertheless, Charles’ visit may still hold importance for Australia, particularly in light of the United Kingdom’s growing military and strategic partnership with the country. Australia, the U.K., and the United States recently signed the AUKUS agreement, which will provide the Australian navy with nuclear-powered submarines for the first time and enhance security cooperation between the nations.
“In my view, we have bigger fish to fry here in Australia right now than the question of whether we should continue as part of a constitutional monarchy or become a republic,” Kemish said, highlighting how geopolitical concerns are currently overshadowing the monarchy debate.
While Australia holds a special place in King Charles’ heart, his true passion lies in environmental activism. Climate change will be at the forefront of his agenda as he heads to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This will be the first CHOGM summit Charles will attend as head of the Commonwealth, a position he inherited from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, many of which were once part of the British Empire. However, it is more than just a symbolic relic of the past. For Charles, the Commonwealth provides a platform to address one of the most pressing global issues: climate change.
Pacific island nations like Samoa are among the first to experience the devastating effects of global warming. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and increasingly severe tropical storms are already threatening their existence. These nations have long called for urgent international action to curb carbon emissions and reduce the impact of climate change.
Charles has been a vocal advocate for environmental causes for decades, often speaking out about the need for world leaders to address the climate crisis. His commitment to the cause has earned him a reputation as a “genuine eco-warrior,” according to Anna Whitelock.
“Focusing specifically around environmental issues, I think, will really play to his strengths and show that actually he has a really meaningful role he could play in the Commonwealth,” Whitelock said. “And I think he knows that and will absolutely relish that.”
The summit in Samoa will provide Charles with the opportunity to highlight the plight of small island states and encourage global cooperation on climate action. His presence at the event is expected to draw international attention to the existential threat faced by these vulnerable nations.
Kemish, who once served as Australia’s ambassador to Papua New Guinea, emphasized the importance of bringing the world’s attention to the challenges faced by Pacific island nations. “These are the countries that will go below the surface of the ocean first and where the impact can be seen most dramatically,” he said. “And I think it’s important for global attention to be brought to this part of the world.”
As King Charles III embarks on this significant tour, the world will be watching closely. For many, it will be a test of his ability to lead in challenging times, both personally and globally. Despite his recent health struggles, Charles is determined to play an active role in shaping the future of the monarchy and advocating for the causes he holds dear.
This trip is more than just a return to royal duties; it is a defining moment in Charles’ reign. Whether he is rallying international support for climate action in Samoa or navigating the complexities of Australia’s relationship with the monarchy, King Charles III is demonstrating that he intends to be more than a passive figurehead. He is a king with a mission, ready to lead by example, even as he faces the challenges of age and illness.
As he travels across the world, King Charles will continue to build on the legacy left by his mother while forging his own path as a monarch who is not afraid to tackle the world’s biggest issues head-on.
